CVE-2025-38508

x86/sev: Use TSC_FACTOR for Secure TSC frequency calculation

MEDIUM
5.5
CVSS Score
Published: August 16, 2025 at 10:54 AM UTC
Updated: August 5, 2026 at 12:44 PM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorLinux Kernel

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Severity
MEDIUM5.5
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.1%

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: x86/sev: Use TSC_FACTOR for Secure TSC frequency calculation When using Secure TSC, the GUEST_TSC_FREQ MSR reports a frequency based on the nominal P0 frequency, which deviates slightly (typically ~0.2%) from the actual mean TSC frequency due to clocking parameters. Over extended VM uptime, this discrepancy accumulates, causing clock skew between the hypervisor and a SEV-SNP VM, leading to early timer interrupts as perceived by the guest. The guest kernel relies on the reported nominal frequency for TSC-based timekeeping, while the actual frequency set during SNP_LAUNCH_START may differ. This mismatch results in inaccurate time calculations, causing the guest to perceive hrtimers as firing earlier than expected. Utilize the TSC_FACTOR from the SEV firmware's secrets page (see "Secrets Page Format" in the SNP Firmware ABI Specification) to calculate the mean TSC frequency, ensuring accurate timekeeping and mitigating clock skew in SEV-SNP VMs. Use early_ioremap_encrypted() to map the secrets page as ioremap_encrypted() uses kmalloc() which is not available during early TSC initialization and causes a panic. [ bp: Drop the silly dummy var: https://lore.kernel.org/r/20250630192726.GBaGLlHl84xIopx4Pt@fat_crate.local ]

Affected

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

6.14 ≤ v < 6.15.76.14 ≤ v < 6.166.16 rc16.16 rc26.16 rc36.16 rc473bbf3b0fbba9aa27fef07a1fbd837661a863f03
Vendor states this is fixed in 52e1a03e6cf61ae165f59f41c44394a653a0a788 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in d0195c42e65805938c9eb507657e7cdf8e1e9522 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.14 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.15.7 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.16 (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/52e1a03e6cf61ae165f59f41c44394a653a0a788
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d0195c42e65805938c9eb507657e7cdf8e1e9522

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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