Summary

• A vulnerability in the vhost/vhost.c:vhost_new_msg() function of the Linux Kernel could allow a local attacker to access sensitive information on a targeted system.
  
  The vulnerability is due to improper initialization of memory in messages that are passed between virtual guests and the host operating system by the affected software. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by reading from the /dev/vhost-net device file on a targeted system. An exploit could allow the attacker to read sensitive kernel memory information on the system, which could be used to conduct further attacks.
  
  Kernel.org has confirmed the vulnerability; however, software updates are not available.

Analysis

• To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must have user-level access to the targeted system. This access requirement could reduce the likelihood of a successful exploit.
  
  The vulnerability has been confirmed in a Linux Kernel Mailing List post and initial patch submission available at the following link: [PATCH net] vhost: Use kzalloc() to allocate vhost_msg_node.

Safeguards

• Administrators are advised to contact the vendor regarding future updates and releases.
  
  Administrators are advised to allow only trusted users to access local systems.
  
  Administrators are advised to allow only privileged users to access administration or management systems.
  
  Administrators are advised to monitor critical systems.

Vendor Announcements

• At the time this alert was first published, Kernel.org had not released a security announcement; however, the vulnerability has been confirmed in a Linux Kernel Mailing List post.

Fixed Software

• At the time this alert was first published, Kernel.org had not released software updates.

Revision History

• Version	Description	Section	Date
  1	Initial public release.	—	2018-May-15

  Show Less

Affected Products

• The security vulnerability applies to the following combinations of products.
  
  

  Primary Products
  Linus Torvalds	Linux Kernel	4.8 (Base, .1, .2, .3, .12, .11, .10, .9, .8, .7, .6, .5, .4) | 4.9 (Base) | 4.9.11 (Base) | 4.9.10 (Base) | 4.9.9 (Base) | 4.9.8 (Base) | 4.9.7 (Base) | 4.9.6 (Base) | 4.9.5 (Base) | 4.9.4 (Base) | 4.9.3 (Base) | 4.9.2 (Base) | 4.9.1 (Base) | 4.10 (.0, .1, .2, .3, .4, .5, .6, .7, .8, .9, .10, .11, .12, .15) | 4.11 (Base, .1, .2, .3, .4, .5, .6, .7) | 4.12 (Base, .1, .2, .3, .4, .5, .6, .7, .8, .9) | 4.13 (Base, .6, .2) | 4.14 (.0, .1, .2, .3, .4, .5, .6, .7, .8, .9, .10, .11, .12, .13, .14, .15, .0-rc1) | 4.15 (Base, .1, .2, .3, .0, .0-r7, .6, .7, .5, .4, .0-rc4, .8, .9, .10, .11, .13, .14, .15) | 4.16 (Base, .1, .2, .3) | 4.9.76 (Base)

  Associated Products