Description
Stack-based buffer overflow in the get_matching_model_microcode function in arch/x86/kernel/cpu/microcode/intel_early.c in the Linux kernel before 4.0 allows context-dependent attackers to gain privileges by constructing a crafted microcode header and leveraging root privileges for write access to the initrd.
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-ckt9-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 3.16.7-ckt9-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 3.16.7-ckt9-1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux | 3.13.0-51.84 | USN-2588-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux-lts-utopic | 3.16.0-36.48~14.04.1 | USN-2589-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | kernel-kdump +4 | 3.10.0-229.11.1.el7 | RHSA-2015:1534 |
| RHEL 7 | kernel-rt +7 | 3.10.0-229.11.1.rt56.141.11.el7_1 | RHSA-2015:1565 |
| RHEL 7 | perf +13 | 3.10.0-229.11.1.ael7b | RHSA-2015:1534 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 | kernel-docs +1 | 3.12.43-52.6.2 | SUSE-SU-2015:1071-1 |
| SLES 12 | kernel-ec2 +4 | 3.12.43-52.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2015:1071-1 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 | kernel-xen +3 | 3.12.43-52.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2015:1071-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 | kgraft-patch-SLE12_Update_5 | 1-2.3 | SUSE-SU-2015:1071-1 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | perf +11 | 3.10.0-229.11.1.el7 | ELSA-2015-1534 |
Advisories 6
- RHSA-2015:1565 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2015:1534 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- USN-2588-1 linux vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- USN-2589-1 linux-lts-utopic vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2015:1071-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- ELSA-2015-1534 Moderate: kernel security and bug fix update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Aug 5, 2015
References
- FEDORA-2015-4457 vendor-advisory
- 1032414 vdb-entry
- [oss-security] 20150320 Re: CVE Request: Linux kernel execution in the early microcode loader. mailing-list
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/f84598bd7c851f8b0bf8cd0d7c3be0d73c432ff4
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=f84598bd7c851f8b0bf8cd0d7c3be0d73c432ff4
- RHSA-2015:1534 vendor-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1204722