Linux Kernel up to 4.14 Mutex nodemanager.c null pointer dereference

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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4.3$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 4.14. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the file fs/ocfs2/cluster/nodemanager.c of the component Mutex Handler. This manipulation causes null pointer dereference. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2017-18216. The attack requires local access. There is no available exploit. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 4.14 (Operating System). It has been declared as problematic. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file fs/ocfs2/cluster/nodemanager.c of the component Mutex Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-476. A NULL pointer dereference occurs when the application dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid, but is NULL, typically causing a crash or exit. As an impact it is known to affect availability. The summary by CVE is:

In fs/ocfs2/cluster/nodemanager.c in the Linux kernel before 4.15, local users can cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and BUG) because a required mutex is not used.

The bug was discovered 11/15/2017. The weakness was presented 03/05/2018 by Alex (Website). The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2017-18216 since 03/05/2018. The exploitation appears to be easy. An attack has to be approached locally. The exploitation doesn't need any form of authentication. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 110 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $0-$5k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 109518 (Debian DSA-4188-1 : linux - security update (Spectre)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Debian Local Security Checks and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 197263 (Ubuntu Security Notification for Linux, Linux-aws, Linux-kvm, Linux-raspi2, Linux-snapdragon Vulnerabilities (USN-3776-1)).

Upgrading to version 4.15 eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published 3 months after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (109518), SecurityFocus (BID 103278†) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2022-0532). See VDB-111185, VDB-113696, VDB-113823 and VDB-114029 for similar entries. Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Affected

  • Oracle Linux
  • Debian Linux
  • Open Source Linux Kernel
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Ubuntu Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle VM
  • NetApp FAS
  • Avaya Aura Communication Manager
  • Avaya Aura Session Manager
  • Avaya Aura Application Enablement Services
  • Avaya Aura System Manager
  • Avaya Aura Experience Portal
  • NetApp AFF

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.4
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.3

VulDB Base Score: 3.3
VulDB Temp Score: 3.2
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Null pointer dereference
CWE: CWE-476 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 109518
Nessus Name: Debian DSA-4188-1 : linux - security update (Spectre)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 58191
OpenVAS Name: Debian LTS Advisory ([SECURITY] [DLA 1369-1] linux security update)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍

Upgrade: Kernel 4.15
Patch: git.kernel.org

Timelineinfo

11/15/2017 🔍
03/05/2018 +110 days 🔍
03/05/2018 +0 days 🔍
03/05/2018 +0 days 🔍
03/06/2018 +1 days 🔍
03/07/2018 +1 days 🔍
05/01/2018 +55 days 🔍
05/02/2018 +1 days 🔍
09/14/2025 +2692 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: 853bc26a7ea39e354b9f8889ae7ad1492ffa28d2
Researcher: Alex
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2017-18216 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2017-18216
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-114073

OVAL: 🔍

SecurityFocus: 103278 - Linux Kernel 'fs/ocfs2/cluster/nodemanager.c' Local Denial of Service Vulnerability
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2022-0532 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 03/06/2018 07:51
Updated: 09/14/2025 02:02
Changes: 03/06/2018 07:51 (80), 01/10/2020 14:17 (5), 02/16/2023 21:08 (5), 02/16/2023 21:21 (1), 09/14/2025 02:02 (21)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Discussion

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