Linux Kernel up to 4.16.x Kernel Driver Seed cryptographic issue

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5.8	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as critical has been discovered in Linux Kernel up to 4.16.x. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the component Kernel Driver. Executing a manipulation can lead to cryptographic issue (Seed). This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2018-1108. The attack can be launched remotely. No exploit exists. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 4.16.x (Operating System). It has been declared as critical. This vulnerability affects an unknown functionality of the component Kernel Driver. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a cryptographic issue vulnerability (Seed). The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-310. As an impact it is known to affect integrity. CVE summarizes:

kernel drivers before version 4.17-rc1 are vulnerable to a weakness in the Linux kernel's implementation of random seed data. Programs, early in the boot sequence, could use the data allocated for the seed before it was sufficiently generated.

The bug was discovered 04/10/2018. The weakness was disclosed 05/21/2018 by Jann Horn as confirmed bug report (Bugzilla). The advisory is available at bugzilla.redhat.com. This vulnerability was named CVE-2018-1108 since 12/04/2017. The attack can be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is required for a successful exploitation. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not available. This vulnerability is assigned to T1600 by the MITRE ATT&CK project.

The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 21 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $5k-$25k. 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 351331 (Amazon Linux Security Advisory for kernel: ALAC2012-2018-007 (SegmentSmack/FragmentSmack)).

Upgrading to version 4.17-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published even before and not after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (109518), SecurityFocus (BID 104055†) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2022-0532). The entries VDB-111185, VDB-112694, VDB-113696 and VDB-113823 are pretty similar. If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

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

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 4.0
• 4.1
• 4.2
• 4.3
• 4.4
• 4.5
• 4.6
• 4.7
• 4.8
• 4.9
• 4.10
• 4.11
• 4.12
• 4.13
• 4.14
• 4.15
• 4.16

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔍
• 🔍
• 🔍

CPE 2.2info

• 🔍
• 🔍
• 🔍

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.9
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.8

VulDB Base Score: 5.9
VulDB Temp Score: 5.7
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.9
NVD Vector: 🔍

CNA Base Score: 5.9
CNA Vector (Red Hat, Inc.): 🔍

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
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💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
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Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Name: Seed
Class: Cryptographic issue / Seed
CWE: CWE-310
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

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

OpenVAS ID: 56890
OpenVAS Name: Fedora Update for kernel FEDORA-2018-e71875c4aa
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Upgrade: Kernel 4.17-rc1

Timelineinfo

12/04/2017 🔍
04/10/2018 +127 days 🔍
04/12/2018 +2 days 🔍
05/01/2018 +19 days 🔍
05/02/2018 +1 days 🔍
05/21/2018 +18 days 🔍
05/21/2018 +0 days 🔍
05/22/2018 +1 days 🔍
09/14/2025 +2672 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: USN-3718-1
Researcher: Jann Horn
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2018-1108 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2018-1108
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-118042

OVAL: 🔍

SecurityFocus: 104055 - Linux Kernel CVE-2018-1108 Predictable Random Number Generator Weakness
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2022-0532 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 05/22/2018 08:56
Updated: 09/14/2025 05:15
Changes: 05/22/2018 08:56 (79), 02/08/2020 09:07 (6), 03/14/2023 14:20 (4), 03/14/2023 14:22 (10), 09/14/2025 05:15 (22)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

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