---
id: CVE-2026-81016
title: >-
  kernel: platform/x86/amd/pmc: Propagate SMU errors and validate S2D address
  (CVE-2026-81016)
summary: >-
  A flaw was found in the Linux kernel. Specifically, within the AMD Platform
  Management Controller (PMC) component, the `amd_stb_s2d_init()` function does
  not properly validate memory addresses returned by System Management Unit
  (SMU) comma…
severity: medium
cvss: 5.5
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'
cvssSource: vendor
cwe: CWE-908
vendor: Red Hat
product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
affected:
  - enterprise_linux 10
  - enterprise_linux 9
  - openshift_container_platform 4
published: '2026-09-11'
updated: '2026-09-14'
sourceUpdated: '2026-09-14T17:36:44+00:00'
source: CSAF
sourceUrl: 'https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-81016.json'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-81016.json
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-81016'
  - url: 'https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2532049'
  - url: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-81016'
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-81016'
  - url: >-
      https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/security/vulns.git/plain/cve/published/2026/CVE-2026-81016.mbox
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0225c1d637687b03726f00ac65b6def843d2c464'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/775d4cde1f9737796ce7d8393521e9e8c5b49891'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8178f59d76570b152d836bde07f5997f15861f04'
tags:
  - csaf
  - vex
  - red-hat
  - cve.org
  - score-dispute
epss: 0.00188
epssPercentile: 0.0746
scores:
  vendor: 4.1
  cna: 7.7
ingestedAt: '2026-09-14T15:23:07.475Z'
---

## Overview

A flaw was found in the Linux kernel. Specifically, within the AMD Platform Management Controller (PMC) component, the `amd_stb_s2d_init()` function does not properly validate memory addresses returned by System Management Unit (SMU) commands. This can result in the kernel attempting to map a critical memory region at address zero, leading to system warnings and potential instability. This issue could be exploited by a local attacker to cause a denial of service.

## Vendor advisories

- **Red Hat VEX** · Moderate · affected: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9, Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 · no fix planned: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9, Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 · updated 2026-09-14 · [vex](https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-81016.json)

**kernel: platform/x86/amd/pmc: Propagate SMU errors and validate S2D address** — rated Moderate by Red Hat. Released 2026-09-11, updated 2026-09-14.

Affected:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4

No fix planned:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4

Not affected:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4

## Remediation

Fix deferred