// For flags

CVE-2024-42240

x86/bhi: Avoid warning in #DB handler due to BHI mitigation

Severity Score

5.5
*CVSS v3.1

Exploit Likelihood

*EPSS

Affected Versions

*CPE

Public Exploits

0
*Multiple Sources

Exploited in Wild

-
*KEV

Decision

Track
*SSVC
Descriptions

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

x86/bhi: Avoid warning in #DB handler due to BHI mitigation

When BHI mitigation is enabled, if SYSENTER is invoked with the TF flag set
then entry_SYSENTER_compat() uses CLEAR_BRANCH_HISTORY and calls the
clear_bhb_loop() before the TF flag is cleared. This causes the #DB handler
(exc_debug_kernel()) to issue a warning because single-step is used outside the
entry_SYSENTER_compat() function.

To address this issue, entry_SYSENTER_compat() should use CLEAR_BRANCH_HISTORY
after making sure the TF flag is cleared.

The problem can be reproduced with the following sequence:

$ cat sysenter_step.c
int main()
{ asm("pushf; pop %ax; bts $8,%ax; push %ax; popf; sysenter"); }

$ gcc -o sysenter_step sysenter_step.c

$ ./sysenter_step
Segmentation fault (core dumped)

The program is expected to crash, and the #DB handler will issue a warning.

Kernel log:

WARNING: CPU: 27 PID: 7000 at arch/x86/kernel/traps.c:1009 exc_debug_kernel+0xd2/0x160
...
RIP: 0010:exc_debug_kernel+0xd2/0x160
...
Call Trace:
<#DB>
? show_regs+0x68/0x80
? __warn+0x8c/0x140
? exc_debug_kernel+0xd2/0x160
? report_bug+0x175/0x1a0
? handle_bug+0x44/0x90
? exc_invalid_op+0x1c/0x70
? asm_exc_invalid_op+0x1f/0x30
? exc_debug_kernel+0xd2/0x160
exc_debug+0x43/0x50
asm_exc_debug+0x1e/0x40
RIP: 0010:clear_bhb_loop+0x0/0xb0
...
</#DB>
<TASK>
? entry_SYSENTER_compat_after_hwframe+0x6e/0x8d
</TASK>

[ bp: Massage commit message. ]

A denial of service vulnerability was found in the Linux kernel. When BHI mitigation is enabled, if SYSENTER is invoked with the TF flag set, then entry_SYSENTER_compat() uses CLEAR_BRANCH_HISTORY and calls the clear_bhb_loop() before the TF flag is cleared. This causes the #DB handler (exc_debug_kernel()) to issue a warning that results in a software crash.

*Credits: N/A
CVSS Scores
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
High
* Common Vulnerability Scoring System
SSVC
  • Decision:Track
Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Tech. Impact
Partial
* Organization's Worst-case Scenario
Timeline
  • 2024-07-30 CVE Reserved
  • 2024-08-07 CVE Published
  • 2024-08-13 EPSS Updated
  • 2024-12-19 CVE Updated
  • ---------- Exploited in Wild
  • ---------- KEV Due Date
  • ---------- First Exploit
CWE
  • CWE-99: Improper Control of Resource Identifiers ('Resource Injection')
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"
>= 5.15.154 < 5.15.163
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel" and version " >= 5.15.154 < 5.15.163"
en
Affected
Linux
Search vendor "Linux"
Linux Kernel
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel"
>= 6.1.85 < 6.1.100
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel" and version " >= 6.1.85 < 6.1.100"
en
Affected
Linux
Search vendor "Linux"
Linux Kernel
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel"
>= 6.6.26 < 6.6.41
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel" and version " >= 6.6.26 < 6.6.41"
en
Affected
Linux
Search vendor "Linux"
Linux Kernel
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel"
>= 6.9 < 6.9.10
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel" and version " >= 6.9 < 6.9.10"
en
Affected
Linux
Search vendor "Linux"
Linux Kernel
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel"
>= 6.9 < 6.10
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel" and version " >= 6.9 < 6.10"
en
Affected
Linux
Search vendor "Linux"
Linux Kernel
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel"
6.8.5
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel" and version "6.8.5"
en
Affected