KernelScan.io

HIGH

xen PrivCmd Escape

CVE-2026-31788

CVSS 8.2 / 10.0 NVD

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

KernelScan AI6.5MEDIUM

01

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xen/privcmd: restrict usage in unprivileged domU The Xen privcmd driver allows to issue arbitrary hypercalls from user space processes. This is normally no problem, as access is usually limited to root and the hypervisor will deny any hypercalls affecting other domains. In case the guest is booted using secure boot, however, the privcmd driver would be enabling a root user process to modify e.g. kernel memory contents, thus breaking the secure boot feature. The only known case where an unprivileged domU is really needing to use the privcmd driver is the case when it is acting as the device model for another guest. In this case all hypercalls issued via the privcmd driver will target that other guest. Fortunately the privcmd driver can already be locked down to allow only hypercalls targeting a specific domain, but this mode can be activated from user land only today. The target domain can be obtained from Xenstore, so when not running in dom0 restrict the privcmd driver to that target domain from the beginning, resolving the potential problem of breaking secure boot. This is XSA-482 --- V2: - defer reading from Xenstore if Xenstore isn't ready yet (Jan Beulich) - wait in open() if target domain isn't known yet - issue message in case no target domain found (Jan Beulich)

02

Engine v0.2.0

Risk summary

Root users in unprivileged Xen domU guests can bypass secure boot protections by issuing arbitrary hypercalls through the privcmd driver. This allows modification of kernel memory contents, breaking the secure boot feature and potentially compromising kernel integrity or availability.

Affecteddrivers/xen/privcmd.c (Xen privcmd driver)

Vulnerability analysis

The Xen privcmd driver allows userspace processes to issue arbitrary hypercalls to the hypervisor. While intended primarily for dom0, the driver was also exposed in unprivileged domU guests without restricting hypercalls to a specific target domain. In secure boot environments, this enables a root process within the guest to modify kernel memory via hypercalls, effectively bypassing secure boot protections. The fix restricts the privcmd driver in unprivileged domU to only allow hypercalls targeting a specific domain obtained from Xenstore, preventing arbitrary hypercall abuse while preserving legitimate device model use cases.

03

BranchFixed inPatch commit
5.105.10.2534eb245ff0d33
5.155.15.2033ee5b9e3de4b
6.16.1.16787a803edb2de
6.126.12.7878432d8f0372
6.186.18.20389bae9a4409
6.196.19.10cbede2e833da
6.66.6.1301879319d790f
mainline7.0453b8fb68f36