CVE-2026-98471: Linux kernel · KVM: SEV: Do cache maintenance on the source VM during intra-host migration
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.1 High.
Data as of 27 Oct 2026, 08:57 UTC
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 18 Oct 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 manually performs cache maintenance on the source VM during intra-host migration to prevent stale data in CPU caches. Users should apply the updated Linux kernel versions that include this fix. No additional mitigation steps are indicated beyond applying the patch.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's KVM SEV implementation involves improper cache maintenance on the source VM during intra-host migration. The issue arises because the source VM is converted to a non-SEV VM, and KVM's memory reclaim processes do not trigger necessary cache maintenance, potentially leaving stale data in CPU caches after the VM is destroyed. This could lead to integrity issues during VM migration. The vulnerability affects specific Linux kernel versions used in various Ubuntu releases.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-98471 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-98471 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d4cc2dff12116a700add601c0262132cc26e1b2c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/93de2a6a4b91b72607136dd656edf03fb399d27f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/37dfb676fafd1eef36fe0bb649607afbb0d5521b (opens in a new tab)