Linux Kernel KVM_SET_ON_REG IOCTL Mishandle Denial of Service Vulnerability [CVE-2018-18021]
CVE number – CVE-2018-18021
A vulnerability in the Linux Kernel could allow a local attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition on a targeted system.
The vulnerability exists in the arch/arm64/kvm/guest.c source code file of the affected software and is due to the mishandling of the sanity check for the KVM_SET_ON_REG IOCTL function. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by creating a malicious Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM). A successful exploit could cause an illegal exception return, resulting in a DoS condition on the targeted system.
Kernel.org confirmed the vulnerability and released software updates.
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To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must have local access to the targeted system. This access requirement may reduce the likelihood of a successful exploit.
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Administrators are advised to allow only trusted users to access local systems.
Administrators are advised to allow only privileged users to access administration or management systems.
Administrators are advised to monitor critical systems.
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Kernel.org released a git commit at the following link: commit 2a3f93459d689d990b3ecfbe782fec89b97d3279
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Kernel.org released a software patch at the following link: linux-2a3f93459d689d990b3ecfbe782fec89b97d3279.tar.gz
Duncan is a technology professional with over 20 years experience of working in various IT roles. He has a interest in cyber security, and has a wide range of other skills in radio, electronics and telecommunications.