CVE-2017-1000252 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis
Learn about CVE-2017-1000252, a vulnerability in the Linux kernel's KVM subsystem allowing guest OS users to trigger a denial of service, potentially causing system crashes or hangs. Find out how to mitigate this issue.
The Linux kernel's KVM subsystem, up to version 4.13.3, has a vulnerability where users of the guest operating system can trigger a denial of service by providing an out-of-bounds value for the guest_irq, potentially causing the hypervisor to hang or crash.
Understanding CVE-2017-1000252
This CVE relates to a vulnerability in the Linux kernel's KVM subsystem that allows guest OS users to cause a denial of service.
What is CVE-2017-1000252?
The vulnerability in the Linux kernel's KVM subsystem allows users of the guest operating system to trigger a denial of service by providing an out-of-bounds value for the guest_irq. This can lead to an assertion failure and potentially cause the hypervisor to hang or crash. The affected files are arch/x86/kvm/vmx.c and virt/kvm/eventfd.c.
The Impact of CVE-2017-1000252
The vulnerability can be exploited by users of the guest operating system to disrupt the normal operation of the hypervisor, potentially leading to system crashes or hangs.
Technical Details of CVE-2017-1000252
This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The KVM subsystem in the Linux kernel through version 4.13.3 allows guest OS users to cause a denial of service via an out-of-bounds guest_irq value, resulting in assertion failure and potential hypervisor hang or crash.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: n/a
- Vendor: n/a
- Versions affected: Up to version 4.13.3
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability can be exploited by providing an out-of-bounds value for the guest_irq, which triggers an assertion failure and can potentially cause the hypervisor to hang or crash.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from this vulnerability requires specific actions.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply patches provided by the Linux kernel maintainers promptly.
- Monitor security advisories from relevant vendors for updates.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update the Linux kernel to the latest stable version.
- Implement proper access controls and restrictions to minimize the impact of potential vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
- Keep the Linux kernel up to date with the latest security patches to mitigate the risk of exploitation.