Upstream information

CVE-2026-31561 at MITRE

Description

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

x86/cpu: Remove X86_CR4_FRED from the CR4 pinned bits mask

Commit in Fixes added the FRED CR4 bit to the CR4 pinned bits mask so
that whenever something else modifies CR4, that bit remains set. Which
in itself is a perfectly fine idea.

However, there's an issue when during boot FRED is initialized: first on
the BSP and later on the APs. Thus, there's a window in time when
exceptions cannot be handled.

This becomes particularly nasty when running as SEV-{ES,SNP} or TDX
guests which, when they manage to trigger exceptions during that short
window described above, triple fault due to FRED MSRs not being set up
yet.

See Link tag below for a much more detailed explanation of the
situation.

So, as a result, the commit in that Link URL tried to address this
shortcoming by temporarily disabling CR4 pinning when an AP is not
online yet.

However, that is a problem in itself because in this case, an attack on
the kernel needs to only modify the online bit - a single bit in RW
memory - and then disable CR4 pinning and then disable SM*P, leading to
more and worse things to happen to the system.

So, instead, remove the FRED bit from the CR4 pinning mask, thus
obviating the need to temporarily disable CR4 pinning.

If someone manages to disable FRED when poking at CR4, then
idt_invalidate() would make sure the system would crash'n'burn on the
first exception triggered, which is a much better outcome security-wise.

SUSE information

Overall state of this security issue: New

This issue is currently rated as having moderate severity.

Note from the SUSE Security Team on the kernel-default package

SUSE will no longer fix all CVEs in the Linux Kernel anymore, but declare some bug classes as won't fix. Please refer to TID 21496 for more details.

No SUSE Bugzilla entries cross referenced.

No SUSE Security Announcements cross referenced.


Status of this issue by product and package

Please note that this evaluation state might be work in progress, incomplete or outdated. Also information for service packs in the LTSS phase is only included for issues meeting the LTSS criteria. If in doubt, feel free to contact us for clarification. The updates are grouped by state of their lifecycle. SUSE product lifecycles are documented on the lifecycle page.

Product(s) Source package State
Products under general support and receiving all security fixes.
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 15 SP7 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 15 SP7 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP7 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP7 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP7 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP7 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.2 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.2 kernel-rt Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.2 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.2 kernel-source-rt Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 kernel-rt Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 kernel-source-rt Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 kernel-rt Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 kernel-source-rt Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 kernel-source-rt Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP7 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP7 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP7 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP7 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Legacy 15 SP7 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Legacy 15 SP7 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15 SP7 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15 SP7 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP7 kernel-source-rt Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP7 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP7 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.0 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.0 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.1 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP7 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP7 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP applications 16.0 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP applications 16.0 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP applications 16.1 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 15 SP7 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 15 SP7 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Micro 6.0 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Micro 6.0 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Micro 6.0 kernel-source-rt Analysis
SUSE Linux Micro 6.1 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Micro 6.1 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Micro 6.1 kernel-source-rt Analysis
SUSE Linux Micro 6.2 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Micro 6.2 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP7 kernel-source-rt Analysis
openSUSE Leap 15.6 kernel-default Analysis
openSUSE Leap 15.6 kernel-source Analysis
openSUSE Leap 15.6 kernel-source-azure Analysis
openSUSE Leap 15.6 kernel-source-rt Analysis
Products under Long Term Service Pack support and receiving important and critical security fixes.
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-LTSS kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-LTSS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 12 SP5 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 12 SP5 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP4 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP4 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP5 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP5 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP4 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP5 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP6 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP4 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP5 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP6 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 LTSS EXTREME CORE kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 LTSS EXTREME CORE kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS Extended Security kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS Extended Security kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5-LTSS kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5-LTSS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6 kernel-source-azure Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6-LTSS kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6-LTSS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server LTSS Extended Security 12 SP5 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP6 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP6 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP6 kernel-source-azure Analysis
SUSE Manager Proxy 4.3 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Manager Proxy LTS 4.3 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.3 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server LTS 4.3 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Manager Server 4.3 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Manager Server LTS 4.3 kernel-source Analysis
Products past their end of life and not receiving proactive updates anymore.
SUSE CaaS Platform 4.0 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Enterprise Storage 6 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Enterprise Storage 7 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Enterprise Storage 7.1 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 SP4 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP4 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP1 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP2 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP3 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP4 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP5 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP6 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1-ESPOS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1-LTSS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2-ESPOS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2-LTSS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3-ESPOS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3-LTSS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-ESPOS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-ESPOS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP6 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP6 kernel-source-azure Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.0 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.1 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.1 kernel-rt Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.1 kernel-source-rt Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP1 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP2 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP3 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP1 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP2 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP3 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15 SP6 kernel-source-azure Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP2 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP3 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP3 kernel-source-rt Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP4 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP4 kernel-source-rt Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP5 kernel-source-rt Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP6 kernel-source-rt Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4-LTSS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4-ESPOS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4-LTSS kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4-LTSS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-BCL kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-LTSS kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-LTSS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2-BCL kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2-LTSS kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2-LTSS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3-BCL kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3-LTSS kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3-LTSS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP4 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP1 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP2 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP3 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP5 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP5 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Manager Proxy 4.0 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Manager Proxy 4.1 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Manager Proxy 4.2 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.0 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.1 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.2 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Manager Server 4.0 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Manager Server 4.1 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Manager Server 4.2 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE OpenStack Cloud 9 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE OpenStack Cloud Crowbar 9 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP3 kernel-source-rt Analysis
SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP4 kernel-source-rt Analysis
SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP5 kernel-source-rt Analysis
SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP6 kernel-source-rt Analysis
openSUSE Leap 15.3 kernel-source Analysis
openSUSE Leap 15.3 kernel-source-rt Analysis
openSUSE Leap 15.4 kernel-source Analysis
openSUSE Leap 15.4 kernel-source-rt Analysis
openSUSE Leap 15.5 kernel-source Analysis
openSUSE Leap 15.5 kernel-source-rt Analysis


SUSE Timeline for this CVE

CVE page created: Fri Apr 24 18:02:08 2026
CVE page last modified: Sat Apr 25 12:58:42 2026