CVE-2026-90241: Linux kernel · iommu/vt-d: Tear down scalable-mode context on probe failure
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 8.2 High.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 13:47 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 6% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 17 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 tears down scalable-mode context entries before freeing the PASID table on probe failure. Users should apply the official patches or updates from their Linux kernel vendor or distribution to address this issue. Since this is a kernel-level vulnerability, upgrading to patched kernel versions is the recommended mitigation.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's iommu/vt-d subsystem was resolved, involving improper teardown of scalable-mode context entries on probe failure. The issue occurs when the probe function fails partway through processing DMA aliases, leaving some context entries still present and pointing to freed PASID table memory. This can lead to the IOMMU walking invalid memory references. The fix ensures proper teardown of context entries before freeing the PASID table on probe failure.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-90241 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/25ac85a9747cd63e1d166ace7b360a2cd9479d9d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c509fb73a1093a15accd7d43a61645d4b520f6ac (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d0e978ced7429b516358bb4d41d337214768ae98 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/db5daf25f754cdc20c18525adb88240ece6fdee9 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-90241 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-90241 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/c509fb73a1093a15accd7d43a61645d4b520f6ac (opens in a new tab)