---
id: CVE-2022-2196
title: "A regression exists in the Linux Kernel within KVM: nVMX that allowed for speculative execution attacks.\_L2 can carry out Spectre v2 attacks on L1 due to L1 thinking it doesn't need retpolines or IBPB\_after running L2 due to KVM (L0) adv…"
summary: "A regression exists in the Linux Kernel within KVM: nVMX that allowed for speculative execution attacks.\_L2 can carry out Spectre v2 attacks on L1 due to L1 thinking it doesn't need retpolines or IBPB\_after running L2 due to KVM (L0) adv…"
severity: medium
cvss: 5.8
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:L'
cwe:
  - CWE-1188
  - CWE-1188
vendor: linux
product: linux_kernel
affected:
  - 'linux_kernel >= 5.4.47, < 5.4.233'
  - 'linux_kernel >= 5.6.19, < 5.7'
  - 'linux_kernel >= 5.7.3, < 5.10.170'
  - 'linux_kernel >= 5.11, < 5.15.96'
  - 'linux_kernel >= 5.16, < 6.1.14'
  - debian_linux = 10.0
patched:
  - linux_kernel 6.1.14
published: '2023-01-09'
updated: '2026-08-07'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-2196'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git/commit/?id=1b0cafaae8884726c597caded50af185ffc13349
    label: cve-coordination@google.com
  - url: >-
      https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git/commit/?id=63fada296062e91ad9f871970d4e7f19e21a6a15
    label: cve-coordination@google.com
  - url: >-
      https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git/commit/?id=6b539a7dbb49250f92515c2ba60aea239efc9e35
    label: cve-coordination@google.com
  - url: >-
      https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git/commit/?id=f93a1a5bdcdd122aae0a3eab7a52c15b71fb725b
    label: cve-coordination@google.com
  - url: >-
      https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=2e7eab81425ad6c875f2ed47c0ce01e78afc38a5
    label: cve-coordination@google.com
  - url: 'https://kernel.dance/#2e7eab81425a'
    label: cve-coordination@google.com
  - url: 'https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/05/msg00005.html'
    label: cve-coordination@google.com
  - url: >-
      https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=2e7eab81425ad6c875f2ed47c0ce01e78afc38a5
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://kernel.dance/#2e7eab81425a'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/05/msg00005.html'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230223-0002/'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
tags:
  - nvd
epss: 0.00286
epssPercentile: 0.21309
ingestedAt: '2026-08-07T20:16:40.299Z'
---

## Overview

A regression exists in the Linux Kernel within KVM: nVMX that allowed for speculative execution attacks. L2 can carry out Spectre v2 attacks on L1 due to L1 thinking it doesn't need retpolines or IBPB after running L2 due to KVM (L0) advertising eIBRS support to L1. An attacker at L2 with code execution can execute code on an indirect branch on the host machine. We recommend upgrading to Kernel 6.2 or applying the relevant stable backports (v5.4.233, v5.10.170, v5.15.96, v6.1.14).

## Affected

- `linux_kernel >= 5.4.47, < 5.4.233`
- `linux_kernel >= 5.6.19, < 5.7`
- `linux_kernel >= 5.7.3, < 5.10.170`
- `linux_kernel >= 5.11, < 5.15.96`
- `linux_kernel >= 5.16, < 6.1.14`
- `debian_linux = 10.0`

## Remediation

Upgrade past the affected range:

- `linux_kernel 6.1.14`