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Linux kernel before 6.6.158.1-1 may miss configuration alerts

published 1 month ago
Summary

The Linux kernel code that handles virtual device configuration can briefly store an error value instead of a valid reference. If this happens, the system may stop sending configuration notifications, causing the device to appear unresponsive. Updating the kernel to version 6.6.158.1-1 or later resolves the issue.

What to do
  • Update kernel to version 6.6.158.1-1.
Affected software
Ecosystem VendorProductAffected versions
Azure Linux:3 – kernel < 6.6.158.1-1
Fix: upgrade to 6.6.158.1-1
Azure Linux:3 azure kernel <= 6.6.157.1-1
Original advisory text
CVE-2026-97993 affecting package kernel for versions less than 6.6.158.1-1
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

vhost-vdpa: don't install the eventfd_ctx_fdget() error in config_ctx

vhost_vdpa_set_config_call() swaps the eventfd_ctx_fdget() return value
into v->config_ctx before checking it, so on failure the field briefly
holds an ERR_PTR:

ctx = fd == VHOST_FILE_UNBIND ? NULL : eventfd_ctx_fdget(fd);
swap(ctx, v->config_ctx);

if (!IS_ERR_OR_NULL(ctx))
eventfd_ctx_put(ctx);

if (IS_ERR(v->config_ctx)) {
long ret = PTR_ERR(v->config_ctx);

v->config_ctx = NULL;
return ret;
}

Commit 0bde59c1723a ("vhost-vdpa: set v->config_ctx to NULL if
eventfd_ctx_fdget() fails") added that clearing, and spelled out the
invariant the rest of the file relies on: "we consider 'v->config_ctx'
valid if it is not NULL". The window between the swap and the clearing
still breaks it. vhost_vdpa_config_cb() only tests for NULL, so a config
interrupt delivered inside the window hands the ERR_PTR to
eventfd_signal().

Check the fd before installing it instead. That closes the window and
matches how vhost_vring_ioctl() handles the same failure for the vq call
fd.

It also stops a rejected fd from tearing down a config interrupt that was
working: until now the swap replaced the live context and put it, so
after an EBADF the device silently stopped delivering config interrupts
until userspace installed a new fd.
Timeline
Published25 Sep 2026
Updated2 Nov 2026
First seen26 Sep 2026
Sources
AZL-104534 · OSV
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