Description
arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S in the Linux kernel before 4.1.6 on the x86_64 platform improperly relies on espfix64 during nested NMI processing, which allows local users to gain privileges by triggering an NMI within a certain instruction window.
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 | 4.0.8-2 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 4.0.8-2 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 4.0.8-2 | — |
| Debian 8 | linux | 3.16.7-ckt11-1+deb8u2 | DSA-3313-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux | 3.13.0-59.98 | USN-2700-1, USN-2688-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux-lts-utopic | 3.16.0-45.60~14.04.1 | USN-2689-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux-lts-vivid | 3.19.0-25.26~14.04.1 | USN-2690-1 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 1
- Linux Kernel - 'espfix64' Nested NMIs Interrupting Privilege Escalation EDB-37722 · local · Aug 5, 2015
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 6
- WID-SEC-2024-3050 Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · May 27, 2026
- USN-2700-1 linux vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- USN-2688-1 linux vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DSA-3313-1 linux - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- USN-2689-1 linux-lts-utopic vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- USN-2690-1 linux-lts-vivid vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
References
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1243465
- [oss-security] 20150804 CVE-2015-3290: Linux privilege escalation due to nested NMIs interrupting espfix64 mailing-list
- 76004 vdb-entry
- 37722 exploit
- USN-2689-1 vendor-advisory
- USN-2690-1 vendor-advisory
- http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=9b6e6a8334d56354853f9c255d1395c2ba570e0a
- USN-2691-1 vendor-advisory
- USN-2688-1 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2015:1382 vendor-advisory
- DSA-3313 vendor-advisory
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.1.6
- [oss-security] 20150722 Linux x86_64 NMI security issues mailing-list
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/9b6e6a8334d56354853f9c255d1395c2ba570e0a
- USN-2687-1 vendor-advisory