Description
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.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | linux | 3.16.7-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 3.16.7-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 3.16.7-1 | — |
| Debian 7 | linux | 3.2.63-2+deb7u1 | DSA-3060-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-riscv +6 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv +2 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gke +4 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux | 3.13.0-40.69 | USN-2420-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde-5.15 | No fix yet | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | perf +17 | 3.10.0-229.el7 | RHSA-2015:0290 |
| RHEL 6 | perf +16 | 2.6.32-504.16.2.el6 | RHSA-2015:0864 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6.5 EUS | perf +16 | 2.6.32-431.53.2.el6 | RHSA-2015:0782 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | perf +11 | 3.10.0-229.el7 | ELSA-2015-0290 |
Advisories 6
- RHSA-2015:0864 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2015:0782 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2015:0290 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- USN-2420-1 linux vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DSA-3060-1 linux - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- ELSA-2015-0290 Important: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Mar 11, 2015
References
- [oss-security] 20141029 Re: CVE-2014-3690: KVM DoS triggerable by malicious host userspace mailing-list
- SUSE-SU-2015:0736 vendor-advisory
- USN-2418-1 vendor-advisory
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/ChangeLog-3.17.2
- USN-2417-1 vendor-advisory
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=d974baa398f34393db76be45f7d4d04fbdbb4a0a
- SUSE-SU-2015:0178 vendor-advisory
- USN-2419-1 vendor-advisory
- DSA-3060 vendor-advisory
- 70691 vdb-entry
- RHSA-2015:0864 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2015:0290 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SU-2015:0481 vendor-advisory
- MDVSA-2015:058 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2015:0566 vendor-advisory
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/d974baa398f34393db76be45f7d4d04fbdbb4a0a
- RHSA-2015:0782 vendor-advisory
- 60174 third-party-advisory
- USN-2421-1 vendor-advisory
- USN-2420-1 vendor-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1153322
- [oss-security] 20141021 CVE-2014-3690: KVM DoS triggerable by malicious host userspace mailing-list