CVE-2026-23229: Linux kernel · crypto: virtio – Add spinlock protection with virtqueue notification
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 6.8.0-1060.63~22.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 12:55 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 3% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 6.8.0-1060.63~22.04.1, 6.8.0-1063.69~22.04.1, 6.8.0-1060.61~22.04.1 +24
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 18 Feb 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 25.10linuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux@6.17.0-40.40?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws@6.17.0-1019.19?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure@6.17.0-1020.20?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde@6.17.0-1017.17?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp@6.17.0-1020.22?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-oraclepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-oracle@6.17.0-1018.18?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
A patch is available and should be applied to affected Linux kernel versions. The fix adds spinlock protection to the virtqueue notification handling in the virtio-crypto driver. Users should update to the patched kernel versions as provided by their Linux distribution vendor, such as the Ubuntu security notice USN-8492-1. No additional mitigation is required beyond applying the official fix.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's virtio-crypto PCI device handling was resolved by adding spinlock protection to the virtqueue notification process. Without this protection, running multiple OpenSSL benchmark processes could cause the system to hang and report errors related to virtqueue data handling. The issue affects specific Linux kernel versions and has been fixed in updated releases.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-23229 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-23229 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/49c57c6c108931a914ed94e3c0ddb974008260a3 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c0a0ded3bb7fd45f720faa48449a930153257d3a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d6f0d586808689963e58fd739bed626ff5013b24 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e69a7b0a71b6561b3b6459f1fded8d589f2e8ac2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8492-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8492-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8497-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8498-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8499-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8492-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8492-4 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8492-5 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8575-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8576-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8575-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8576-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8597-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8606-1 (opens in a new tab)