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major vulnerability· requires attention

Kernel IOMMU (VT-d) bug enables DMA-based host/VM compromise; Linux is ubiquitous in servers/cloud—warrants broad, immediate attention.

Systems

CVE-2026-74439

9.3
Critical
EPSS 0.13%Patch availableAug 17, 2026

VT-d PASID teardown bug lets IOMMU walk freed entries, enabling DMA-based host/VM compromise.

common questions

Is CVE-2026-74439 being exploited?

Not confirmed. CVE-2026-74439 does not appear in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, which records only exploitation that has been observed and reported publicly. That is evidence of absence of a report, not evidence the flaw is unattacked. EPSS currently estimates a 0.13% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How severe is CVE-2026-74439?

CVE-2026-74439 is rated Critical with a CVSS score of 9.3. Severity describes how bad exploitation would be, not how likely it is: pair it with exploitation evidence before deciding what to patch first.

Is there a patch for CVE-2026-74439?

Yes. A fix has been recorded for CVE-2026-74439. The vendor advisory is the authority on the exact fixed version — apply it from there rather than from a summary.

What does CVE-2026-74439 affect?

CVE-2026-74439 affects Linux kernel (iommu/vt-d), Intel VT-d IOMMU-enabled systems, Virtualization hosts with PASID-capable devices, PCIe devices supporting PASID. Confirm the exact affected versions against the vendor advisory before deciding you are exposed.

What should I do about CVE-2026-74439?

Apply patched kernel/backport immediately; isolate/unplug untrusted PCIe devices or disable PASID/IOMMU until patched.

Exploitation status reflects CISA's KEV catalog as we last synced it. Check the catalog directly.

executive summary
technical analysis
affected
Linux kernel (iommu/vt-d)Intel VT-d IOMMU-enabled systemsVirtualization hosts with PASID-capable devicesPCIe devices supporting PASID
impact

A malicious PCIe device or guest can cause IOMMU to use freed PASID entries, enabling arbitrary DMA reads/writes, data disclosure, corruption, or host/VM compromise.

action required

Immediate action required

affected versions
Linux Linux
  • affected>= 81e921fd321614c2ad8ac333b041aae1da7a1c6d and < e9e83bcfe37dc719182500dd823c03ab57d934f0
  • affected>= 81e921fd321614c2ad8ac333b041aae1da7a1c6d and < 588718101e8449605f1c7e858fecb7cfa701cdab
  • affected>= 81e921fd321614c2ad8ac333b041aae1da7a1c6d and < 7fd4077dc92b91b1b844333c0a06bb9e286db10a
  • affected>= 81e921fd321614c2ad8ac333b041aae1da7a1c6d and < f46452c3df7a8d8a5addc0926e76ef19ea7da0a0
  • affected333fe86968482ca701c609af590003bcea450e8f
  • affected>= 6.8.2 and < 6.9
  • affected6.9
vendor says fixed in< 6.9, >= 6.12.97 and <= 6.12.*, >= 6.18.40 and <= 6.18.*, >= 7.1.5 and <= 7.1.*, >= 7.2 and <= *

As published in the CVE Program record. A version outside these ranges is not a statement that it is unaffected — vendors sometimes understate a range, and distribution-backported builds carry upstream numbers that do not reflect what was patched into them.

how to fix
Remediation steps are tailored for users whose stack is affected. Add this technology to your stack to see the fix checklist.
references
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