# CVE-2022-50720: CVE-2022-50720

Status: published. Published: 2025-12-24. Updated: 2026-11-10.

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

x86/apic: Don't disable x2APIC if locked

The APIC supports two modes, legacy APIC (or xAPIC), and Extended APIC
(or x2APIC).  X2APIC mode is mostly compatible with legacy APIC, but
it disables the memory-mapped APIC interface in favor of one that uses
MSRs.  The APIC mode is controlled by the EXT bit in the APIC MSR.

The MMIO/xAPIC interface has some problems, most notably the APIC LEAK
[1].  This bug allows an attacker to use the APIC MMIO interface to
extract data from the SGX enclave.

Introduce support for a new feature that will allow the BIOS to lock
the APIC in x2APIC mode.  If the APIC is locked in x2APIC mode and the
kernel tries to disable the APIC or revert to legacy APIC mode a GP
fault will occur.

Introduce support for a new MSR (IA32_XAPIC_DISABLE_STATUS) and handle
the new locked mode when the LEGACY_XAPIC_DISABLED bit is set by
preventing the kernel from trying to disable the x2APIC.

On platforms with the IA32_XAPIC_DISABLE_STATUS MSR, if SGX or TDX are
enabled the LEGACY_XAPIC_DISABLED will be set by the BIOS.  If
legacy APIC is required, then it SGX and TDX need to be disabled in the
BIOS.

[1]: https://aepicleak.com/aepicleak.pdf

## Remediation

No remediation reported in collected sources

## Affected products and versions

Not reported in collected sources.

## Severity and prioritization

- CISA KEV: No listing in collected sources

- EPSS: Not available

- SSVC: Not available

- Weaknesses: Not reported

## Exploit evidence

No exploit evidence in collected sources. This is not proof of no exploitation.

## References

- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/05785ba834f23272f9d23427ae4a80ac505a5296 (416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67)

- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b8d1d163604bd1e600b062fb00de5dc42baa355f (416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67)

- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dd1241e00addbf0b95f6cd6ce32152692820657e (416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67)

## Provenance

- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-50720; retrieved 2026-11-10; source updated 2026-11-10

Revision: 5af739a57ba0f0538831c2815841a073c55f655c05c0a8ee06af0999591a10ce

Canonical: https://y2.dev/cve/CVE-2022-50720

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