CVE-2022-49886

x86/tdx: Panic on bad configs that #VE on "private" memory access

MEDIUM
5.5
CVSS Score
Published: May 1, 2025 at 02:10 PM UTC
Updated: August 5, 2026 at 09:24 AM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorLinux Kernel

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Severity
MEDIUM5.5
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.2%

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: x86/tdx: Panic on bad configs that #VE on "private" memory access All normal kernel memory is "TDX private memory". This includes everything from kernel stacks to kernel text. Handling exceptions on arbitrary accesses to kernel memory is essentially impossible because they can happen in horribly nasty places like kernel entry/exit. But, TDX hardware can theoretically _deliver_ a virtualization exception (#VE) on any access to private memory. But, it's not as bad as it sounds. TDX can be configured to never deliver these exceptions on private memory with a "TD attribute" called ATTR_SEPT_VE_DISABLE. The guest has no way to *set* this attribute, but it can check it. Ensure ATTR_SEPT_VE_DISABLE is set in early boot. panic() if it is unset. There is no sane way for Linux to run with this attribute clear so a panic() is appropriate. There's small window during boot before the check where kernel has an early #VE handler. But the handler is only for port I/O and will also panic() as soon as it sees any other #VE, such as a one generated by a private memory access. [ dhansen: Rewrite changelog and rebase on new tdx_parse_tdinfo(). Add Kirill's tested-by because I made changes since he wrote this. ]

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

5.19 ≤ v < 6.0.85.19 ≤ v < 6.16.1 rc16.1 rc26.1 rc39a22bf6debbf5169f750af53c7f86eb4e3cd6712
Vendor states this is fixed in 373e715e31bf4e0f129befe87613a278fac228d3 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 895c168c8f78079f21ad50fead7593ffa352f795 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.19 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.0.8 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.1 (unaffected)

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet. What the record does show:

References (2)

Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/373e715e31bf4e0f129befe87613a278fac228d3
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/895c168c8f78079f21ad50fead7593ffa352f795

CVSS

Attack Vector
LOCAL
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
NONE
Integrity
NONE
Availability
HIGH
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
NVD-CWE-noinfo

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