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CVE-2026-79611

VMX: VMentry failure with branch tracing and blocked states

5.5 MediumFix available

For XSA-308 logic was introduced, as VMX VMEntry checks do not like the exact combination of state which occurs when #DB in intercepted, Single Stepping is active, and blocked by STI/MovSS is active, despite this being a legitimate state to be in. The resulting VMEntry failure is fatal to the guest.

Sadly there is another special sub-case of the above, with branch tracing enabled. In that case the prior adjustment would still cause a VMentry failure, as before fatal to the guest.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Local
Complexity
Low
Privileges needed
Low
User interaction
None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
High

Exploit likelihood

0.16%Unchanged since Oct 14, 2026
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 5.5

VMX: VMentry failure with branch tracing and blocked states

For XSA-308 logic was introduced, as VMX VMEntry checks do not like the exact combination of state which occurs when #DB in intercepted, Single Stepping is active, and blocked by STI/MovSS is active, despite this being a legitimate state to be in. The resulting VMEntry failure is fatal to the guest.

Sadly there is another special sub-case of the above, with branch tracing enabled. In that case the prior adjustment would still cause a VMentry failure, as before fatal to the guest.

Record
CVE-2026-79611
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Weakness
CWE-843
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2026-98828 5.5

For XSA-308 logic was introduced, as VMX VMEntry checks do not like the exact combination of state which occurs when #DB in intercepted, Single Stepping is active, and blocked by STI/MovSS is active, despite this being a legitimate state to be in. The resulting VMEntry failure is fatal to the guest.

Sadly there is another special sub-case of the above, with branch tracing enabled. In that case the prior adjustment would still cause a VMentry failure, as before fatal to the guest.

Record
EUVD-2026-98828
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-28w8-qvww-f539 5.5

For XSA-308 logic was introduced, as VMX VMEntry checks do not like the exact combination of...

For XSA-308 logic was introduced, as VMX VMEntry checks do not like the exact combination of state which occurs when #DB in intercepted, Single Stepping is active, and blocked by STI/MovSS is active, despite this being a legitimate state to be in. The resulting VMEntry failure is fatal to the guest.

Sadly there is another special sub-case of the above, with branch tracing enabled. In that case the prior adjustment would still cause a VMentry failure, as before fatal to the guest.

Record
GHSA-28w8-qvww-f539
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Weakness
CWE-843
Updated
2026-11-02
NVD 5.5

For XSA-308 logic was introduced, as VMX VMEntry checks do not like the exact combination of state which occurs when #DB in intercepted, Single Stepping is active, and blocked by STI/MovSS is active, despite this being a legitimate state to be in. The resulting VMEntry failure is fatal to the guest.

Sadly there is another special sub-case of the above, with branch tracing enabled. In that case the prior adjustment would still cause a VMentry failure, as before fatal to the guest.

Record
CVE-2026-79611
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Weakness
CWE-843
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVALPINE-CVE-2026-79611 5.5

For XSA-308 logic was introduced, as VMX VMEntry checks do not like the exact combination of state which occurs when #DB in intercepted, Single Stepping is active, and blocked by STI/MovSS is active, despite this being a legitimate state to be in. The resulting VMEntry failure is fatal to the guest.

Sadly there is another special sub-case of the above, with branch tracing enabled. In that case the prior adjustment would still cause a VMentry failure, as before fatal to the guest.

Record
ALPINE-CVE-2026-79611
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2026-79611 5.5

For XSA-308 logic was introduced, as VMX VMEntry checks do not like the exact combination of state which occurs when #DB in intercepted, Single Stepping is active, and blocked by STI/MovSS is active, despite this being a legitimate state to be in. The resulting VMEntry failure is fatal to the guest. Sadly there is another special sub-case of the above, with branch tracing enabled. In that case the prior adjustment would still cause a VMentry failure, as before fatal to the guest.

Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2026-79611
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-04
Show 6 moreShow less
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2026-79611 5.5

For XSA-308 logic was introduced, as VMX VMEntry checks do not like the exact combination of state which occurs when #DB in intercepted, Single Stepping is active, and blocked by STI/MovSS is active, despite this being a legitimate state to be in. The resulting VMEntry failure is fatal to the guest. Sadly there is another special sub-case of the above, with branch tracing enabled. In that case the prior adjustment would still cause a VMentry failure, as before fatal to the guest.

Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2026-79611
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2026:12138-1 No score

xen-4.22.0_06-1.1 on GA media

These are all security issues fixed in the xen-4.22.0_06-1.1 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.

Record
openSUSE-SU-2026:12138-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2026:4641-1 No score

Security update for xen

This update for xen fixes the following issues:

Security issues fixed:

  • CVE-2026-79609: x86: XPTI may break on huge-memory systems (bsc#1283321).
  • CVE-2026-79610: grant-table: double version change race (bsc#1283322).
  • CVE-2026-79611: VMX: VMentry failure with branch tracing and blocked states (bsc#1283323).
  • CVE-2026-102700: gnttab: cache-flush handling may cause page reference leak (bsc#1283325).

Non security issue fixed:

  • Xen: Missing upstream bug fixes (bsc#1027519).
Record
SUSE-SU-2026:4641-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2026:4642-1 No score

Security update for xen

This update for xen fixes the following issues:

  • CVE-2026-79609: x86: XPTI may break on huge-memory systems (bsc#1283321).
  • CVE-2026-79610: grant-table: double version change race (bsc#1283322).
  • CVE-2026-79611: VMX: VMentry failure with branch tracing and blocked states (bsc#1283323).
  • CVE-2026-102700: gnttab: cache-flush handling may cause page reference leak (bsc#1283325).
Record
SUSE-SU-2026:4642-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2026:4732-1 No score

Security update for xen

This update for xen fixes the following issues:

  • CVE-2026-79609: x86: XPTI may break on huge-memory systems (bsc#1283321).
  • CVE-2026-79610: grant-table: double version change race (bsc#1283322).
  • CVE-2026-79611: VMX: VMentry failure with branch tracing and blocked states (bsc#1283323).
  • CVE-2026-102700: gnttab: cache-flush handling may cause page reference leak (bsc#1283325).
Record
SUSE-SU-2026:4732-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2026:4942-1 No score

Security update for xen

This update for xen fixes the following issues:

  • CVE-2026-79608: x86/AMD: ineffectual Zenbleed workaround (bsc#1283317).
  • CVE-2026-79609: x86: XPTI may break on huge-memory systems (bsc#1283321).
  • CVE-2026-79610: grant-table: double version change race (bsc#1283322).
  • CVE-2026-79611: VMX: VMentry failure with branch tracing and blocked states (bsc#1283323).
  • CVE-2026-102700: gnttab: cache-flush handling may cause page reference leak (bsc#1283325).
Record
SUSE-SU-2026:4942-1
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
xen
Alpine:v3.21
before 4.19.6-r2
4.19.6-r2
xen
Alpine:v3.22
before 4.20.4-r2
4.20.4-r2
xen
Alpine:v3.23
before 4.20.4-r2
4.20.4-r2
xen
Alpine:v3.24
before 4.21.2-r2
4.21.2-r2
xen
Debian:12
before 4.17.7+13-g2445b30a44-0+deb12u1, plus listed versions
4.17.1+2-gb773c48e36-14.17.2+55-g0b56bed864-14.17.2+76-ge1f9cb16e2-14.17.2+76-ge1f9cb16e2-1~deb12u14.17.2-1
Show 10 moreShow less
4.17.3+10-g091466ba55-14.17.3+10-g091466ba55-1.14.17.3+10-g091466ba55-1.1~exp14.17.3+10-g091466ba55-1.1~exp24.17.3+10-g091466ba55-1~deb12u14.17.3+36-g54dacb5c02-14.17.5+23-ga4e5191dc0-14.17.5+23-ga4e5191dc0-1+deb12u14.17.5+72-g01140da4e8-14.17.7-0+deb12u1
4.17.7+13-g2445b30a44-0+deb12u1
xen
Debian:13
before 4.20.4+39-gf1e1321c87-0+deb13u1, plus listed versions
4.20.0+68-g35cb38b222-14.20.2+37-g61ff35323e-0+deb13u14.20.2+37-g61ff35323e-14.20.2+7-g1badcf5035-0+deb13u14.20.2+7-g1badcf5035-14.20.2+7-g1badcf5035-24.20.3+127-gc42374a105-0+deb13u14.20.3+127-gc42374a105-1
4.20.4+39-gf1e1321c87-0+deb13u1
xen
Debian:14
before 4.20.4+39-gf1e1321c87-1, plus listed versions
4.20.0+68-g35cb38b222-14.20.2+37-g61ff35323e-14.20.2+7-g1badcf5035-14.20.2+7-g1badcf5035-24.20.3+127-gc42374a105-1
4.20.4+39-gf1e1321c87-1
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5
before 4.17.7_02-150500.3.82.1
4.17.7_02-150500.3.82.1
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-ESPOS
before 4.17.7_02-150500.3.82.1
4.17.7_02-150500.3.82.1
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-LTSS
before 4.17.7_02-150500.3.82.1
4.17.7_02-150500.3.82.1
Show 20 moreShow less
Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5-LTSS
before 4.17.7_02-150500.3.82.1
4.17.7_02-150500.3.82.1
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP5
before 4.17.7_02-150500.3.82.1
4.17.7_02-150500.3.82.1
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3
before 4.16.7_16-150400.4.95.1
4.16.7_16-150400.4.95.1
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4
before 4.16.7_16-150400.4.95.1
4.16.7_16-150400.4.95.1
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-ESPOS
before 4.16.7_16-150400.4.95.1
4.16.7_16-150400.4.95.1
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS
before 4.16.7_16-150400.4.95.1
4.16.7_16-150400.4.95.1
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS
before 4.16.7_16-150400.4.95.1
4.16.7_16-150400.4.95.1
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4
before 4.16.7_16-150400.4.95.1
4.16.7_16-150400.4.95.1
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS
before 4.12.4_76-3.154.1
4.12.4_76-3.154.1
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server LTSS Extended Security 12 SP5
before 4.12.4_76-3.154.1
4.12.4_76-3.154.1
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP7
before 4.20.4_06-150700.3.49.2
4.20.4_06-150700.3.49.2
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Server Applications 15 SP7
before 4.20.4_06-150700.3.49.2
4.20.4_06-150700.3.49.2
xen
Ubuntu:16.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
4.5.1-0ubuntu14.5.1-0ubuntu24.6.0-1ubuntu14.6.0-1ubuntu24.6.0-1ubuntu4
Show 7 moreShow less
4.6.0-1ubuntu4.14.6.0-1ubuntu4.24.6.0-1ubuntu4.34.6.5-0ubuntu14.6.5-0ubuntu1.14.6.5-0ubuntu1.24.6.5-0ubuntu1.4
None known
xen
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
4.9.0-0ubuntu34.9.0-0ubuntu44.9.2-0ubuntu1
None known
xen
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
4.9.2-0ubuntu24.9.2-0ubuntu64.9.2-0ubuntu74.11.3+24-g14b62ab3e5-1ubuntu14.11.3+24-g14b62ab3e5-1ubuntu24.11.3+24-g14b62ab3e5-1ubuntu2.24.11.3+24-g14b62ab3e5-1ubuntu2.3
None known
xen
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
4.11.4+24-gddaaccbbab-1ubuntu24.16.0-1~ubuntu24.16.0-1~ubuntu2.1
None known
xen
Ubuntu:24.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
4.17.2-14.17.2+55-g0b56bed864-14.17.2+76-ge1f9cb16e2-14.17.2+76-ge1f9cb16e2-1ubuntu14.17.3+10-g091466ba55-14.17.3+10-g091466ba55-1.1ubuntu24.17.3+10-g091466ba55-1.1ubuntu3
None known
xen
Ubuntu:26.10
All versions, plus listed versions
4.20.2+7-g1badcf5035-2build24.20.2+37-g61ff35323e-1ubuntu14.20.3+127-gc42374a105-1
None known
xen
Ubuntu:26.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
4.20.0+68-g35cb38b222-14.20.2+7-g1badcf5035-24.20.2+7-g1badcf5035-2build2
None known
xen
openSUSE:Tumbleweed
before 4.22.0_06-1.1
4.22.0_06-1.1

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
affected, factsOSV
first indexedCVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2026-79611 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.5) in Xen, published October 13, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.16%, the 5th percentile. Fixed in xen 4.19.6-r2.

References

Show 19 moreShow less
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