CVE-2014-3690

arch/x86/kvm/vmx.c in the KVM subsystem in the Linux kernel before 3.17.2 on Intel processors does not ensure that the value in the CR4 control register remains the same after a VM entry, which allows host OS users to kill arbitrary processes or cause a denial of service (system disruption) by leveraging /dev/kvm access, as demonstrated by PR_SET_TSC prctl calls within a modified copy of QEMU.

Weakness

The product does not properly control the allocation and maintenance of a limited resource.

Affected Software

Potential Mitigations

• Mitigation of resource exhaustion attacks requires that the target system either:

• The first of these solutions is an issue in itself though, since it may allow attackers to prevent the use of the system by a particular valid user. If the attacker impersonates the valid user, they may be able to prevent the user from accessing the server in question.

• The second solution is simply difficult to effectively institute – and even when properly done, it does not provide a full solution. It simply makes the attack require more resources on the part of the attacker.

Related Attack Patterns

• https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/147.html
• https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/227.html
• https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/492.html

References

• http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=d974baa398f34393db76be45f7d4d04fbdbb4a0a
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2015-01/msg00035.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2015-03/msg00010.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2015-03/msg00025.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2015-04/msg00015.html
• http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-0290.html
• http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-0782.html
• http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-0864.html
• http://secunia.com/advisories/60174
• http://www.debian.org/security/2014/dsa-3060
• http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/ChangeLog-3.17.2
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2015:058
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/10/21/4
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/10/29/7
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/70691
• http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2417-1
• http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2418-1
• http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2419-1
• http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2420-1
• http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2421-1
• https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1153322
• https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/d974baa398f34393db76be45f7d4d04fbdbb4a0a
• http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=d974baa398f34393db76be45f7d4d04fbdbb4a0a
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2015-01/msg00035.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2015-03/msg00010.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2015-03/msg00025.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2015-04/msg00015.html
• http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-0290.html
• http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-0782.html
• http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-0864.html
• http://secunia.com/advisories/60174
• http://www.debian.org/security/2014/dsa-3060
• http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/ChangeLog-3.17.2
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2015:058
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/10/21/4
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/10/29/7
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/70691
• http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2417-1
• http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2418-1
• http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2419-1
• http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2420-1
• http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2421-1
• https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1153322
• https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/d974baa398f34393db76be45f7d4d04fbdbb4a0a