CVE-2019-3882 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

The implementation of the vfio interface in the Linux kernel contains a vulnerability that allows a local attacker to trigger a denial of service (DoS) by depleting system memory.

Understanding CVE-2019-3882

This CVE involves a weakness in the Linux kernel's vfio interface that can be exploited by an attacker with administrative ownership of a device associated with a vfio driver.

What is CVE-2019-3882?

The vulnerability in the vfio interface of the Linux kernel allows a local attacker to exceed the user's allocated memory limit, leading to a DoS situation.

The Impact of CVE-2019-3882

CVSS Base Score: 4.7 (Medium)
Attack Vector: Local
Attack Complexity: High
Availability Impact: High
Privileges Required: Low
CWE ID: CWE-770

Technical Details of CVE-2019-3882

The technical details of this CVE provide insight into the vulnerability's description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the vfio interface of the Linux kernel allows a local attacker to deplete system memory, resulting in a DoS condition.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: Kernel
Vendor: The Linux Foundation
Vulnerable Versions: 3.10, 4.14, 4.18

Exploitation Mechanism

An attacker with administrative ownership of a device associated with a vfio driver can exploit this vulnerability to exhaust system memory.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-3882 requires immediate steps and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches provided by the vendor
Monitor system memory usage for unusual patterns
Restrict administrative access to devices

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update the kernel and associated drivers
Implement least privilege access controls

Patching and Updates

Refer to vendor advisories for specific patch information