HOMEVULNERABILITIESCVE-2026-45944
HIGH

CVE-2026-45944

Published: May 27, 2026· Updated: May 30, 2026

7.5
CVSS v3.1

Official Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

iommu/vt-d: Clear Present bit before tearing down context entry

When tearing down a context entry, the current implementation zeros the

entire 128-bit entry using multiple 64-bit writes. This creates a window

where the hardware can fetch a "torn" entry — where some fields are

already zeroed while the 'Present' bit is still set — leading to

unpredictable behavior or spurious faults.

While x86 provides strong write ordering, the compiler may reorder writes

to the two 64-bit halves of the context entry. Even without compiler

reordering, the hardware fetch is not guaranteed to be atomic with

respect to multiple CPU writes.

Align with the "Guidance to Software for Invalidations" in the VT-d spec

(Section 6.5.3.3) by implementing the recommended ownership handshake:

1. Clear only the 'Present' (P) bit of the context entry first to

signal the transition of ownership from hardware to software.

2. Use dma_wmb() to ensure the cleared bit is visible to the IOMMU.

3. Perform the required cache and context-cache invalidation to ensure

hardware no longer has cached references to the entry.

4. Fully zero out the entry only after the invalidation is complete.

Also, add a dma_wmb() to context_set_present() to ensure the entry

is fully initialized before the 'Present' bit becomes visible.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2026-45944 requires local access, meaning attackers must already have a foothold on the target system.

Exploitation requires high privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.

A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 7.5.

The vulnerability has a "Changed" scope, meaning successful exploitation can impact components beyond the vulnerable component itself — such as the host operating system or adjacent services.

CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown

Exploitability
Attack VectorLocal
Attack ComplexityHigh
Privileges Req.High
User InteractionNone
ScopeChanged
Impact
ConfidentialityHigh
IntegrityHigh
AvailabilityHigh
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected Vendors & Products

Mentioned vendors (from description):
Linux
CPE data not yet available in NVD for this CVE.

Exploit & PoC Resources

NO KNOWN EXPLOITNo public exploit confirmed at this time
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All References (3)

Quick Facts

CVE IDCVE-2026-45944
CVSS Score7.5 / 10
SeverityHIGH
CISA KEVNo
PublishedMay 27, 2026

Recommended Actions

  • Apply vendor patches immediately
  • Monitor CVE-2026-45944 in threat intel feeds
  • Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts
Data sourced from NVD (NIST), CISA KEV, and EPSS (FIRST). Analysis generated by CTIWATCH.COM. CVE data is provided under the NVD usage policy.