CVE-2018-10982 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A vulnerability was detected in Xen versions up to 4.10.x, allowing x86 HVM guest OS users to carry out a denial of service attack and potentially gain hypervisor privileges.

Understanding CVE-2018-10982

This CVE involves a vulnerability in Xen that can be exploited by users of x86 HVM guest operating systems.

What is CVE-2018-10982?

The vulnerability enables users to trigger an unexpectedly high interrupt number, causing an array overrun and crashing the hypervisor. It may also allow attackers to gain hypervisor privileges.

The Impact of CVE-2018-10982

The vulnerability can lead to a denial of service attack and potential elevation of privileges for attackers.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-10982

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue in Xen through 4.10.x allows x86 HVM guest OS users to cause a denial of service or potentially gain hypervisor privileges by manipulating HPET timer settings.

Affected Systems and Versions

Xen versions up to 4.10.x

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by setting up an HPET timer to deliver interrupts in IO-APIC mode, known as vHPET interrupt injection.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-10982 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches and updates provided by Xen to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor security advisories from Xen and related vendors for any further updates.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch Xen installations to address security vulnerabilities.
Implement strong access controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect and prevent unauthorized activities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by Xen and apply them promptly to secure systems.