Vulnerability Description
The Intel EPT paging code uses an optimization to defer flushing of any cached EPT state until the p2m lock is dropped, so that multiple modifications done under the same locked region only issue a single flush. Freeing of paging structures however is not deferred until the flushing is done, and can result in freed pages transiently being present in cached state. Such stale entries can point to memory ranges not owned by the guest, thus allowing access to unintended memory regions.
CVSS Score
HIGH
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Xen | Xen | >= 4.17 |
Related Weaknesses (CWE)
References
- https://xenbits.xenproject.org/xsa/advisory-480.htmlPatchVendor Advisory
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/03/17/6Mailing ListPatchThird Party Advisory
- http://xenbits.xen.org/xsa/advisory-480.htmlPatchVendor Advisory
FAQ
What is CVE-2026-23554?
CVE-2026-23554 is a vulnerability with a CVSS score of 7.8 (HIGH). The Intel EPT paging code uses an optimization to defer flushing of any cached EPT state until the p2m lock is dropped, so that multiple modifications done under the same locked region only issue a si...
How severe is CVE-2026-23554?
CVE-2026-23554 has been rated HIGH with a CVSS base score of 7.8/10. Review the CVSS metrics above for detailed severity breakdown.
Is there a patch for CVE-2026-23554?
Check the references section above for vendor advisories and patch information. Affected products include: Xen Xen.