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Linux Kernel EUVDEUVD-2026-86897

| CVE-2026-97589 HIGH
2026-09-25 Linux GHSA-x8r8-vhc5-qmvr
7.0
CVSS 3.1 · Vendor: Linux
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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Local access to s390 host with paes/phmac drivers
  2. Delivery
    Submit crypto requests via kernel crypto API
  3. Exploit
    Force do_one_request error path after finalization
  4. Execution
    Engine issues second completion (double-free)
  5. Impact
    Kernel crash / denial of service

Vulnerability Assessment

Exploitation Conditions

Requires a running IBM Z (s390) system with the s390 protected-key AES (paes_s390: ecb/cbc/ctr/xts) or protected-key HMAC (phmac_s390) hardware crypto drivers in use, and a local privileged-enough user able to submit crypto engine requests. The double completion only occurs when a do_one_request callback reaches its error path and returns a negative code after already calling crypto_finalize_hash_request()/crypto_finalize_skcipher_request(); normal success paths are unaffected. Limiting factors: local-only access (AV:L), high attack complexity in reliably hitting the error path (AC:H), some privilege required (PR:L), and the narrow s390 hardware/driver deployment scope.

Impact

This is a low-real-world-risk issue despite an NVD CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.0. The vector CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H already reflects local access, high complexity, and required privileges, but its C:H/I:H claims are overstated: the described defect is a double-completion (crypto engine issues a second crypto_request_complete() after the driver already finalized the request) leading to a double-free / DoS, not information disclosure or integrity loss. There is no EPSS score, no CISA KEV listing, and no public POC in the provided data - so no active-exploitation or automation signal exists. Exploitation is further constrained to s390 (IBM Z) systems using the paes protected-key AES or phmac hardware-crypto drivers, and the double completion is reached only on an error path (a callback returning a negative code after explicit finalization). Net: no public exploit identified at time of analysis; this is a crash/DoS reliability fix on a niche platform, not a widespread priority. Note conflict: the 'Information Disclosure' tag and the C:H/I:H metrics are inconsistent with the memory-corruption/DoS nature of the actual bug - treat the confidentiality/integrity impact as unverified.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

On an IBM Z (s390) host using the paes or phmac hardware crypto drivers, a local user with access to the crypto API submits requests that drive a do_one_request callback into its error path, where the request is explicitly finalized yet a negative code is returned. The crypto engine then triggers a second completion, causing a double-free and likely kernel crash (DoS). No public exploit code is identified, and reliable triggering depends on hitting the error path.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.1% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Sep 25, 2026

Double completion of asynchronous crypto requests in Linux kernel s390 protected-key drivers (paes_s390 and phmac_s390) can crash or destabilize IBM Z systems when an error path returns a negative code after the request was already finalized. The issue is local-only, requires some privileges (PR:L) and high complexity (AC:H), and is limited to s390 hardware using these drivers; the independent assessment rates real-world risk as low despite NVD's 7.0 base score, with integrity and availability impact but no confidentiality impact. Vendor patches are available and no public exploit has been identified at time of analysis.

RemediationAI

Apply the vendor kernel update containing the fixes in the stable commits ac1481320110b803ab9b79ab4d2ca11a74fc05f2, 5480291aa848e19e61175abfd457933516db70c6, and 972e0d9b7d1d112240ccde1f1be85bf9ffaa1720; EUVD lists patched versions 6.18.53, 7.2.7, and 7.3-rc3, so choose the update matching your kernel branch. The vendor patch is available from the Linux kernel stable tree (see https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/972e0d9b7d1d112240ccde1f1be85bf9ffaa1720, https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5480291aa848e19e61175abfd457933516db70c6, and https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ac1481320110b803ab9b79ab4d2ca11a74fc05f2; NVD advisory: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97589). If immediate kernel update is not possible, restrict local access to trusted users on affected IBM Z systems and avoid workloads that intentionally trigger the s390 protected-key AES/HMAC error paths; these are partial mitigations only, and disabling protected-key crypto functionality may affect workloads without being a documented fix.

Affected VersionsENISA

Linux 6cd87cb5ef6ca50ae17c371482ceaab1d635e232 <ac1481320110b803ab9b79ab4d2ca11a74fc05f2
Linux patch: 6.18.53
Linux 6cd87cb5ef6ca50ae17c371482ceaab1d635e232 <5480291aa848e19e61175abfd457933516db70c6
Linux 6.16
Linux patch: 0
Linux patch: 7.2.7
Linux 6cd87cb5ef6ca50ae17c371482ceaab1d635e232 <972e0d9b7d1d112240ccde1f1be85bf9ffaa1720
Linux patch: 7.3-rc3

Affected Packages

euvd linux no fix

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in euvd

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

The Linux kernel crypto API async engine callback contract requires do_one_request to return 0 after the driver explicitly completes a request via crypto_finalize_hash_request() or crypto_finalize_skcipher_request(). In the affected s390 code, callbacks in paes_s390.c (ECB, CBC, CTR, XTS) and phmac_s390.c returned a negative error code after calling the finalization helper, so the crypto engine treated the driver as having declined ownership and invoked crypto_request_complete() a second time, creating a double completion. The vulnerable components are the IBM Z protected-key AES and protected-key HMAC hardware crypto drivers; the CPE data maps this to linux:linux, and no CWE was assigned. The fix changes phmac_do_one_request() and all four paes do_one_request callbacks to return 0 after explicit finalization.

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Severity by source

Vendor (Linux) PRIMARY 7.0 HIGH
AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
vuln.today AI 5.3 MEDIUM

Local error-path race on s390 crypto drivers (AV:L/AC:H/PR:L); double-free yields crash/DoS (A:H) with no confidentiality (C:N) and only incidental memory-corruption integrity (I:L).

3.1 AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H
4.0 AV:L/AC:H/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:L/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
SUSE 5.3 MEDIUM
AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H
Red Hat 7.0 MEDIUM

Primary rating from Vendor (Linux).

CVSS VectorVendor: Linux

Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
High
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Lifecycle Timeline

4
CVSS changed
Sep 25, 2026 - 15:22 NVD
7.0 (HIGH)
Patch available
Sep 25, 2026 - 11:02 EUVD
CVE Published
Sep 25, 2026 - 10:22 cve.org
UNKNOWN (no severity yet)
CVE Published
Sep 25, 2026 - 10:22 cve.org
HIGH 7.0

DescriptionCVE.org

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

s390/crypto: Fix wrong return code to engine in asynch callbacks

When crypto_finalize_hash_request() or crypto_finalize_skcipher_request() explicitly completes a request, the do_one_request callback must return 0 to indicate successful handling. Returning a negative error code causes the crypto engine to assume the driver failed to take ownership and triggers a second completion via crypto_request_complete(), resulting in a double completion. This pattern occurs in paes_s390.c 4 times and once in phmac_s390.c.

Fixed in phmac_do_one_request() and all four paes do_one_request callbacks (ecb, cbc, ctr, xts) by returning 0 after explicit finalization instead of propagating the error code.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

CVE-2026-97589 is a defect in the Linux kernel's s390 protected-key cryptographic drivers (paes_s390 and phmac_s390) that can crash or destabilize IBM Z mainframe systems when an error path returns after an asynchronous crypto request has already completed. Impact is limited to Linux workloads running on s390 hardware, requires local privileged access and is rated highly complex, so practical risk is low - but because IBM Z platforms typically host mission-critical transactional and regulated workloads, any resulting outage would be felt broadly across the business. No public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis, and vendor fixes are available.

Business Impact: Low
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.1%
Top 97% exploitable
Prevalence
Low
s390-only paes/phmac hardware crypto drivers, niche IBM Z mainframe footprint
Data Quality
3 sources
Confidence: Low

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.1%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Defer
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Small
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact
Low

Priority Score

35
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +35
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Information disclosure occurs when an application unintentionally exposes sensitive data that aids attackers in reconnaissance or directly compromises security.

Vendor StatusVendor

SUSE

Severity: Moderate
Product Status
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7 Not-Affected
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7 Not-Affected
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 15 SP7 Not-Affected
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 15 SP7 Not-Affected
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 16.0 Not-Affected

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