CVE-2023-5158 : Security Advisory and Response
Learn about CVE-2023-5158, a vulnerability affecting the vhost driver in Linux Kernel, leading to possible denial of service attacks. Get insights into impact, affected systems, exploitation details, and mitigation strategies.
This CVE record relates to a vulnerability found in the vhost driver at drivers/vhost/vringh.c, potentially allowing for a denial of service from a guest to a host due to the vringh_kiov_advance component in the Linux Kernel.
Understanding CVE-2023-5158
This section delves into the specifics of CVE-2023-5158.
What is CVE-2023-5158?
The vulnerability in question exists in vringh_kiov_advance within the vhost driver in the Linux Kernel. Exploiting this issue could lead to a denial of service situation where a guest can affect the host by utilizing zero-length descriptors.
The Impact of CVE-2023-5158
The impact of CVE-2023-5158 is classified as moderate in severity. Though the confidentiality and integrity impacts are none, the availability impact is high. The CVSS base score is 6.5, marking it as a medium severity vulnerability.
Technical Details of CVE-2023-5158
This section provides a deeper dive into the technical aspects of CVE-2023-5158.
Vulnerability Description
The flaw resides in the vringh_kiov_advance component within the vhost driver at drivers/vhost/vringh.c in the Linux Kernel, enabling a guest to carry out a denial of service attack on the host through zero length descriptors.
Affected Systems and Versions
The following systems and versions are affected by CVE-2023-5158:
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Fedora
Exploitation Mechanism
The attack complexity for this vulnerability is low, with a local attack vector and low privileges required for exploitation. The scope of impact is changed, and no user interaction is needed for an attacker to exploit this vulnerability.
Mitigation and Prevention
In this section, we discuss the steps to mitigate and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2023-5158.
Immediate Steps to Take
It is recommended to apply relevant security updates provided by the respective vendors promptly to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.
Long-Term Security Practices
Implementing robust security practices, such as regularly updating software, monitoring for unusual activities, and following best security practices, can help enhance overall system security.
Patching and Updates
Stay informed about security updates and patches released by the Linux Kernel and associated vendors, ensuring that systems are kept up to date with the latest security fixes to mitigate the risk of exploitation.