Linux Kernel 3.12/3.14-rc7 ioapic_service input validation

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5.4$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel 3.12/3.14-rc7 and classified as problematic. This affects the function ioapic_service. The manipulation results in input validation. This vulnerability was named CVE-2014-0155. There is no available exploit. It is advisable to implement a patch to correct this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, was found in Linux Kernel 3.12/3.14-rc7 (Operating System). Affected is the function ioapic_service. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a input validation vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-20. The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. This is going to have an impact on availability. CVE summarizes:

The ioapic_deliver function in virt/kvm/ioapic.c in the Linux kernel through 3.14.1 does not properly validate the kvm_irq_delivery_to_apic return value, which allows guest OS users to cause a denial of service (host OS crash) via a crafted entry in the redirection table of an I/O APIC. NOTE: the affected code was moved to the ioapic_service function before the vulnerability was announced.

The weakness was presented 03/28/2014 by Paolo Bonzini with Red Hat as KVM: ioapic: fix assignment of ioapic->rtc_status.pending_eoi (CVE-2014-0155) as confirmed git commit (GIT Repository). The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2014-0155 since 12/03/2013. The exploitability is told to be easy. The attack needs to be approached locally. The exploitation doesn't require any form of authentication. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The reason for this vulnerability is this part of code: 

ioapic->rtc_status.pending_eoi = ret;
The advisory points out:
QE reported that they got the BUG_ON in ioapic_service to trigger. I cannot reproduce it, but there are two reasons why this could happen. The less likely but also easiest one, is when kvm_irq_delivery_to_apic does not deliver to any APIC and returns -1. Because irqe.shorthand == 0, the kvm_for_each_vcpu loop in that function is never reached. However, you can target the similar loop in kvm_irq_delivery_to_apic_fast; just program a zero logical destination address into the IOAPIC, or an out-of-range physical destination address.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 74361 (Ubuntu 13.10 : linux vulnerabilities (USN-2241-1)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Ubuntu Local Security Checks. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 195603 (Ubuntu Security Notification for Linux Vulnerabilities (USN-2337-1)).

Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. A possible mitigation has been published 1 weeks after the disclosure of the vulnerability. The vulnerability will be addressed with the following lines of code:

ioapic->rtc_status.pending_eoi = (ret < 0 ? 0 : ret);

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (92326), Tenable (74361), SecurityFocus (BID 66688†), Secunia (SA57568†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-44119†). Further details are available at bugzilla.redhat.com. Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Not Affected

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5/6

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.2
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.4

VulDB Base Score: 6.2
VulDB Temp Score: 5.4
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Input validation
CWE: CWE-20
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔍
Status: Unproven

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 74361
Nessus Name: Ubuntu 13.10 : linux vulnerabilities (USN-2241-1)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Port: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 804551
OpenVAS Name: Fedora Update for kernel FEDORA-2014-5235
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

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

Patch: git.kernel.org

Timelineinfo

12/03/2013 🔍
03/28/2014 +115 days 🔍
04/04/2014 +7 days 🔍
04/07/2014 +3 days 🔍
04/07/2014 +0 days 🔍
04/08/2014 +1 days 🔍
04/09/2014 +1 days 🔍
04/14/2014 +5 days 🔍
04/16/2014 +2 days 🔍
06/06/2014 +51 days 🔍
05/10/2026 +4356 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: KVM: ioapic: fix assignment of ioapic->rtc_status.pending_eoi (CVE-2014-0155)
Researcher: Paolo Bonzini
Organization: Red Hat
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2014-0155 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2014-0155
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-12828

OVAL: 🔍

X-Force: 92326 - Linux Kernel ioapic_service() denial of service, Medium Risk
SecurityFocus: 66688 - Linux Kernel 'ioapic_service()' Function Denial of Service Vulnerability
Secunia: 57568 - KVM Guest IOAPIC Redirection Table Denial of Service Vulnerability, Not Critical
Vulnerability Center: 44119 - Linux Kernel <=3.14.1 Remote DoS Vulnerability via Crafted I/O APIC Redirect Table, Medium

Misc.: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 04/09/2014 10:38
Updated: 05/10/2026 15:13
Changes: 04/09/2014 10:38 (88), 05/25/2017 10:47 (5), 06/16/2021 15:30 (2), 05/10/2026 15:13 (16)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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