// For flags

CVE-2018-18021

kernel: Privilege escalation on arm64 via KVM hypervisor

Severity Score

7.1
*CVSS v3

Exploit Likelihood

*EPSS

Affected Versions

*CPE

Public Exploits

0
*Multiple Sources

Exploited in Wild

-
*KEV

Decision

-
*SSVC
Descriptions

arch/arm64/kvm/guest.c in KVM in the Linux kernel before 4.18.12 on the arm64 platform mishandles the KVM_SET_ON_REG ioctl. This is exploitable by attackers who can create virtual machines. An attacker can arbitrarily redirect the hypervisor flow of control (with full register control). An attacker can also cause a denial of service (hypervisor panic) via an illegal exception return. This occurs because of insufficient restrictions on userspace access to the core register file, and because PSTATE.M validation does not prevent unintended execution modes.

arch/arm64/kvm/guest.c en KVM en el kernel de Linux en versiones anteriores a la 4.18.12 en la plataforma arm64 gestiona de manera incorrecta la llamada IOCTL KVM_SET_ON_REG. Esto puede ser explotado por atacantes que puedan crear máquinas virtuales. Un atacante puede redireccionar de forma arbitraria el flujo de control del hipervisor (con control de registro total). Un atacante también puede provocar una denegación de servicio (pánico del hipervisor) mediante una devolución de excepción ilegal. Esto ocurre debido a las restricciones insuficientes sobre el acceso del espacio de usuario al archivo de registro core y, además, debido a que la validación PSTATE.M no evita los modos de ejecución no planeados.

A vulnerability was discovered in the Linux kernel that allows an attacker to escalate privileges with using a 64-bit ARM architecture. A local attacker with permission to create KVM-based virtual machines can both panic the hypervisor by triggering an illegal exception return (resulting in a DoS) and to redirect execution elsewhere within the hypervisor with full register control, instead of causing a return to the guest.

*Credits: N/A
CVSS Scores
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
High
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Authentication
None
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
Partial
Availability
Partial
* Common Vulnerability Scoring System
SSVC
  • Decision:-
Exploitation
-
Automatable
-
Tech. Impact
-
* Organization's Worst-case Scenario
Timeline
  • 2018-10-07 CVE Reserved
  • 2018-10-07 CVE Published
  • 2024-08-05 CVE Updated
  • 2024-09-16 EPSS Updated
  • ---------- Exploited in Wild
  • ---------- KEV Due Date
  • ---------- First Exploit
CWE
  • CWE-20: Improper Input Validation
CAPEC
Affected Vendors, Products, and Versions
Vendor Product Version Other Status
Vendor Product Version Other Status <-- --> Vendor Product Version Other Status
Linux
Search vendor "Linux"
Linux Kernel
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel"
< 4.18.12
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel" and version " < 4.18.12"
-
Affected
Debian
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Debian Linux
Search vendor "Debian" for product "Debian Linux"
9.0
Search vendor "Debian" for product "Debian Linux" and version "9.0"
-
Affected
Canonical
Search vendor "Canonical"
Ubuntu Linux
Search vendor "Canonical" for product "Ubuntu Linux"
14.04
Search vendor "Canonical" for product "Ubuntu Linux" and version "14.04"
lts
Affected
Canonical
Search vendor "Canonical"
Ubuntu Linux
Search vendor "Canonical" for product "Ubuntu Linux"
16.04
Search vendor "Canonical" for product "Ubuntu Linux" and version "16.04"
lts
Affected