CVE-2026-81016: Linux kernel · platform/x86/amd/pmc: Propagate SMU errors and validate S2D address
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.7 High.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 13:47 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 8% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 11 Sep 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
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gkepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gke?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther 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 fix is available that properly checks and propagates the return values of SMU commands and validates physical addresses before mapping. Users should apply the official Linux kernel updates that address this issue. Since this is a kernel-level vulnerability, upgrading to patched kernel versions is the recommended remediation.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's AMD platform code (CVE-2026-81016) involves improper handling of System Management Unit (SMU) errors and uninitialized physical addresses during S2D SMU command processing. The function amd_stb_s2d_init() discards return values from SMU commands, potentially leading to use of uninitialized addresses in devm_ioremap(), causing ioremap-on-RAM warnings and possible system instability. This issue has been resolved by checking and propagating SMU command return values and validating physical addresses before mapping.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-81016 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/0225c1d637687b03726f00ac65b6def843d2c464 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/775d4cde1f9737796ce7d8393521e9e8c5b49891 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8178f59d76570b152d836bde07f5997f15861f04 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-81016 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-81016 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/0225c1d637687b03726f00ac65b6def843d2c464 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/638e1ca5d4e2b4fdbb209db64926d013b34f3b79 (opens in a new tab)