kernel KVM before versions kernel 4.16, kernel 4.16-rc7, kernel 4.17-rc1, kernel 4.17-rc2 and kernel 4.17-rc3 is vulnerable to a flaw in the way the Linux kernel's KVM hypervisor handled exceptions delivered after a stack switch operation via Mov SS or Pop SS instructions. During the stack switch operation, the processor did not deliver interrupts and exceptions, rather they are delivered once the first instruction after the stack switch is executed. An unprivileged KVM guest user could use this flaw to crash the guest or, potentially, escalate their privileges in the guest.
This vulnerability carries a HIGH severity rating with a CVSS v3.1 score of 8.0, indicating it requires adjacent network access with relatively low complexity without requiring user interaction requiring only low-level privileges . The vulnerability impacts confidentiality (data exposure), integrity (unauthorized modifications), and availability (service disruption) for affected systems. Impacting 11 products from linux, from canonical, from debian and 8 others, organizations running these solutions should prioritize assessment and patching.
First disclosed in 2018, this vulnerability was reported during a period defined by widespread IoT adoption challenges, mobile security concerns, and the emergence of advanced persistent threat (APT) techniques. Contemporary mitigation strategies focused on secure development practices and third-party component vetting.
2018-05-15T16:29:00.207
2024-11-21T03:59:09.197
Modified
CVSSv3.0: 8.0 (HIGH)
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
3.9
6.4
| Type | Vendor | Product | Version/Range | Vulnerable? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating System | linux | linux_kernel | 4.16 | Yes |
| Operating System | linux | linux_kernel | 4.16 | Yes |
| Operating System | linux | linux_kernel | 4.17 | Yes |
| Operating System | linux | linux_kernel | 4.17 | Yes |
| Operating System | linux | linux_kernel | 4.17 | Yes |
| Operating System | canonical | ubuntu_linux | 14.04 | Yes |
| Operating System | canonical | ubuntu_linux | 16.04 | Yes |
| Operating System | canonical | ubuntu_linux | 17.10 | Yes |
| Operating System | debian | debian_linux | 8.0 | Yes |
| Operating System | debian | debian_linux | 9.0 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux | 7.0 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_desktop | 7.0 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_server | 7.0 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_server_aus | 7.2 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_server_aus | 7.3 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_server_aus | 7.4 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_server_eus | 7.3 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_server_eus | 7.4 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_server_eus | 7.5 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_server_tus | 7.2 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_server_tus | 7.3 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_server_tus | 7.4 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_virtualization | 4.0 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_workstation | 7.0 | Yes |
SecUtils normalizes and enriches National Vulnerability Database (NVD) records by standardizing vendor and product identifiers, aggregating vulnerability metadata from both NVD and MITRE sources, and providing structured context for security teams. For linux's affected products, we extract Common Platform Enumeration (CPE) data, Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) classifications, CVSS severity metrics, and reference data to enable rapid vulnerability prioritization and asset correlation. This record contains no exploit code, proof-of-concept instructions, or attack methodologies—only defensive intelligence necessary for patch management, risk assessment, and security operations.