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CVE-2025-38508

· Published 16/08/2025 11:15 · Modified 16/08/2025 11:15

Labels: CVE-2025-38508 2025-08-16416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67CVE-2025-38508

Essential information

Published
16/08/2025 11:15
Modified
16/08/2025 11:15
Author
Creator
CISA KEV
No
CWE

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: x86/sev: Use TSC_FACTOR for Secure TSC frequency calculation When using Secure TSC, the GUEST_TSC_FREQ MSR reports a frequency based on the nominal P0 frequency, which deviates slightly (typically ~0.2%) from the actual mean TSC frequency due to clocking parameters. Over extended VM uptime, this discrepancy accumulates, causing clock skew between the hypervisor and a SEV-SNP VM, leading to early timer interrupts as perceived by the guest. The guest kernel relies on the reported nominal frequency for TSC-based timekeeping, while the actual frequency set during SNP_LAUNCH_START may differ. This mismatch results in inaccurate time calculations, causing the guest to perceive hrtimers as firing earlier than expected. Utilize the TSC_FACTOR from the SEV firmware's secrets page (see "Secrets Page Format" in the SNP Firmware ABI Specification) to calculate the mean TSC frequency, ensuring accurate timekeeping and mitigating clock skew in SEV-SNP VMs. Use early_ioremap_encrypted() to map the secrets page as ioremap_encrypted() uses kmalloc() which is not available during early TSC initialization and causes a panic. [ bp: Drop the silly dummy var: https://lore.kernel.org/r/20250630192726.GBaGLlHl84xIopx4Pt@fat_crate.local ]

NVD status

Status
Received — CVE has been recently published to the CVE List and has been received by the NVD.
Source
416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
NVD
View on NVD

Affected products (CPE)

ProductCPE
linux / linux kernel cpe:2.3:a:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

References