In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: KVM: nVMX: Always make an attempt to map eVMCS after migration When enlightened VMCS is in use and nested state is migrated with vmx_get_nested_state()/vmx_set_nested_state() KVM can't map evmcs page right away: evmcs gpa is not 'struct kvm_vmx_nested_state_hdr' and we can't read it from VP assist page because userspace may decide to restore HV_X64_MSR_VP_ASSIST_PAGE after restoring nested state (and QEMU, for example, does exactly that). To make sure eVMCS is mapped /vmx_set_nested_state() raises KVM_REQ_GET_NESTED_STATE_PAGES request. Commit f2c7ef3ba955 ("KVM: nSVM: cancel KVM_REQ_GET_NESTED_STATE_PAGES on nested vmexit") added KVM_REQ_GET_NESTED_STATE_PAGES clearing to nested_vmx_vmexit() to make sure MSR permission bitmap is not switched when an immediate exit from L2 to L1 happens right after migration (caused by a pending event, for example). Unfortunately, in the exact same situation we still need to have eVMCS mapped so nested_sync_vmcs12_to_shadow() reflects changes in VMCS12 to eVMCS. As a band-aid, restore nested_get_evmcs_page() when clearing KVM_REQ_GET_NESTED_STATE_PAGES in nested_vmx_vmexit(). The 'fix' is far from being ideal as we can't easily propagate possible failures and even if we could, this is most likely already too late to do so. The whole 'KVM_REQ_GET_NESTED_STATE_PAGES' idea for mapping eVMCS after migration seems to be fragile as we diverge too much from the 'native' path when vmptr loading happens on vmx_set_nested_state().

The Unity Linux 20 host has a package installed that is affected by a vulnerability as referenced in the UTSA-2025-987000 advisory.

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

    KVM: nVMX: Always make an attempt to map eVMCS after migration

    When enlightened VMCS is in use and nested state is migrated with     vmx_get_nested_state()/vmx_set_nested_state() KVM can't map evmcs     page right away: evmcs gpa is not 'struct kvm_vmx_nested_state_hdr'     and we can't read it from VP assist page because userspace may decide     to restore HV_X64_MSR_VP_ASSIST_PAGE after restoring nested state     (and QEMU, for example, does exactly that). To make sure eVMCS is     mapped /vmx_set_nested_state() raises KVM_REQ_GET_NESTED_STATE_PAGES     request.

    Commit f2c7ef3ba955 (KVM: nSVM: cancel KVM_REQ_GET_NESTED_STATE_PAGES     on nested vmexit) added KVM_REQ_GET_NESTED_STATE_PAGES clearing to     nested_vmx_vmexit() to make sure MSR permission bitmap is not switched     when an immediate exit from L2 to L1 happens right after migration (caused     by a pending event, for example). Unfortunately, in the exact same     situation we still need to have eVMCS mapped so     nested_sync_vmcs12_to_shadow() reflects changes in VMCS12 to eVMCS.

    As a band-aid, restore nested_get_evmcs_page() when clearing     KVM_REQ_GET_NESTED_STATE_PAGES in nested_vmx_vmexit(). The 'fix' is far     from being ideal as we can't easily propagate possible failures and even if     we could, this is most likely already too late to do so. The whole     'KVM_REQ_GET_NESTED_STATE_PAGES' idea for mapping eVMCS after migration     seems to be fragile as we diverge too much from the 'native' path when     vmptr loading happens on vmx_set_nested_state().

Tenable has extracted the preceding description block directly from the Unity Linux security advisory.

Note that Nessus has not tested for this issue but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version number.

The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed that are impacted by a vulnerability without a vendor supplied patch available.

  - In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: KVM: nVMX: Always make an attempt to     map eVMCS after migration When enlightened VMCS is in use and nested state is migrated with     vmx_get_nested_state()/vmx_set_nested_state() KVM can't map evmcs page right away: evmcs gpa is not     'struct kvm_vmx_nested_state_hdr' and we can't read it from VP assist page because userspace may decide to     restore HV_X64_MSR_VP_ASSIST_PAGE after restoring nested state (and QEMU, for example, does exactly that).
    To make sure eVMCS is mapped /vmx_set_nested_state() raises KVM_REQ_GET_NESTED_STATE_PAGES request. Commit     f2c7ef3ba955 (KVM: nSVM: cancel KVM_REQ_GET_NESTED_STATE_PAGES on nested vmexit) added     KVM_REQ_GET_NESTED_STATE_PAGES clearing to nested_vmx_vmexit() to make sure MSR permission bitmap is not     switched when an immediate exit from L2 to L1 happens right after migration (caused by a pending event,     for example). Unfortunately, in the exact same situation we still need to have eVMCS mapped so     nested_sync_vmcs12_to_shadow() reflects changes in VMCS12 to eVMCS. As a band-aid, restore     nested_get_evmcs_page() when clearing KVM_REQ_GET_NESTED_STATE_PAGES in nested_vmx_vmexit(). The 'fix' is     far from being ideal as we can't easily propagate possible failures and even if we could, this is most     likely already too late to do so. The whole 'KVM_REQ_GET_NESTED_STATE_PAGES' idea for mapping eVMCS after     migration seems to be fragile as we diverge too much from the 'native' path when vmptr loading happens on     vmx_set_nested_state(). (CVE-2021-46978)

Note that Nessus relies on the presence of the package as reported by the vendor.

ID	Name	Product	Family	Severity
268633	Unity Linux 20.1070e Security Update: kernel (UTSA-2025-987000)	Nessus	Unity Linux Local Security Checks	high
229765	Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2021-46978	Nessus	Misc.	high
160459	Amazon Linux 2 : kernel (ALASKERNEL-5.10-2022-002)	Nessus	Amazon Linux Local Security Checks	high

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CVE-2021-46978

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