Description
The keyctl_read_key function in security/keys/keyctl.c in the Key Management subcomponent in the Linux kernel before 4.13.5 does not properly consider that a key may be possessed but negatively instantiated, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (OOPS and system crash) via a crafted KEYCTL_READ operation.
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 | 4.13.4-2 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 4.13.4-2 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 4.13.4-2 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-raspi-realtime | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv +2 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gke +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp +4 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-snapdragon | 4.4.0-1078.83 | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux | 4.4.0-98.121 | USN-3469-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-aws | 4.4.0-1039.48 | USN-3469-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-azure | 4.13.0-1005.7 | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 4.13.0-1002.5 | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-gke | 4.4.0-1033.33 | USN-3469-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe | 4.13.0-32.35~16.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-kvm | 4.4.0-1009.14 | USN-3469-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-raspi2 | 4.4.0-1076.84 | USN-3469-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-snapdragon | 4.4.0-1078.83 | USN-3469-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux | 3.13.0-142.191 | USN-3583-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux-lts-xenial | 4.4.0-98.121~14.04.1 | USN-3469-2 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | kernel-alt +1 | 4.14.0-49.el7a | RHSA-2018:0654 |
| RHEL 7 | kernel-rt +10 | 3.10.0-693.17.1.rt56.636.el7 | RHSA-2018:0152 |
| RHEL 7 | perf +18 | 3.10.0-693.17.1.el7 | RHSA-2018:0654, RHSA-2018:0151 |
| RHEL 6 | perf +16 | 2.6.32-754.30.2.el6 | RHSA-2020:2430 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat MRG 2 | kernel-rt +10 | 1:3.10.0-693.17.1.rt56.604.el6rt | RHSA-2018:0181 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | kernel-uek +5 | 4.1.12-103.9.4.el7uek | ELSA-2017-3640 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | perf +11 | 3.10.0-693.17.1.el7 | ELSA-2018-0151 |
Advisories 10
- RHSA-2020:2430 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2018:0654 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-alt security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2018:0181 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2018:0151 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2018:0152 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- USN-3583-1 linux vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- USN-3469-1 linux, linux-aws, linux-gke, linux-kvm, linux-raspi2, linux-snapdragon vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- USN-3469-2 linux-lts-xenial vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- ELSA-2018-0151 Important: kernel security and bug fix update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Jan 25, 2018
- ELSA-2017-3640 Important: Unbreakable Enterprise kernel security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Nov 13, 2017
References
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1493435
- USN-3583-2 vendor-advisory
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.13.5
- USN-3583-1 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2018:0151 vendor-advisory
- http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=37863c43b2c6464f252862bf2e9768264e961678
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/37863c43b2c6464f252862bf2e9768264e961678
- https://lkml.org/lkml/2017/9/18/764