Description
The nested_vmx_check_vmptr function in arch/x86/kvm/vmx.c in the Linux kernel through 4.9.8 improperly emulates the VMXON instruction, which allows KVM L1 guest OS users to cause a denial of service (host OS memory consumption) by leveraging the mishandling of page references.
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 | 4.9.13-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 4.9.13-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 4.9.13-1 | — |
| Debian 8 | linux | 3.16.39-1+deb8u1 | DSA-3791-1 |
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 16.04 LTS | linux | 4.4.0-79.100 | USN-3312-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-aws | 4.4.0-1018.27 | USN-3312-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-gke | 4.4.0-1014.14 | USN-3312-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe | 4.10.0-32.36~16.04.1 | USN-3361-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-raspi2 | 4.4.0-1057.64 | USN-3312-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-snapdragon | 4.4.0-1059.63 | USN-3312-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux-lts-xenial | 4.4.0-79.100~14.04.1 | USN-3312-2 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | kernel-rt +10 | 3.10.0-693.rt56.617.el7 | RHSA-2017:2077 |
| RHEL 7 | perf +17 | 3.10.0-693.el7 | RHSA-2017:1842 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP2 | kernel-default +1 | 4.4.59-92.17.3 | SUSE-SU-2017:1183-1 |
| SLES 12 SP2 | kernel-docs | 4.4.59-92.17.8 | SUSE-SU-2017:1183-1 |
| SLES 12 SP2 | kernel-syms +1 | 4.4.59-92.17.2 | SUSE-SU-2017:1183-1 |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | kernel-default | 4.4.59-92.17.3 | SUSE-SU-2017:1183-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | kernel-syms +1 | 4.4.59-92.17.2 | SUSE-SU-2017:1183-1 |
| SLE Real Time 12 SP2 | kernel-rt +3 | 4.4.74-7.10.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:1990-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP2_Update_7 | 1-2.3 | SUSE-SU-2017:1183-1 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | dtrace-modules-4.1.12-61.1.33.el6uek | 0.5.3-2.el6 | ELSA-2017-3533 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | dtrace-modules-4.1.12-61.1.33.el7uek | 0.5.3-2.el7 | ELSA-2017-3533 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | kernel-uek +5 | 4.1.12-61.1.33.el7uek | ELSA-2017-3533 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | perf +11 | 3.10.0-693.el7 | ELSA-2017-1842 |
Advisories 10
- RHSA-2017:2077 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jul 1, 2026
- RHSA-2017:1842 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jul 1, 2026
- USN-3361-1 linux-hwe vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 3, 2026
- USN-3312-1 linux, linux-aws, linux-gke, linux-raspi2, linux-snapdragon vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DSA-3791-1 linux - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- USN-3312-2 linux-lts-xenial vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:1183-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:1990-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 2, 2025
- ELSA-2017-1842 Important: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Aug 7, 2017
- ELSA-2017-3533 Important: Unbreakable Enterprise kernel security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Mar 31, 2017
References
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1417812
- [oss-security] 20170131 CVE-2017-2596 Kernel: kvm: page reference leakage in handle_vmon mailing-list
- 95878 vdb-entry
- RHSA-2017:2077 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2017:1842 vendor-advisory
- DSA-3791 vendor-advisory