Description
The vmw_gb_surface_define_ioctl function (accessible via DRM_IOCTL_VMW_GB_SURFACE_CREATE) in drivers/gpu/drm/vmwgfx/vmwgfx_surface.c in the Linux kernel through 4.11.4 defines a backup_handle variable but does not give it an initial value. If one attempts to create a GB surface, with a previously allocated DMA buffer to be used as a backup buffer, the backup_handle variable does not get written to and is then later returned to user space, allowing local users to obtain sensitive information from uninitialized kernel memory via a crafted ioctl call.
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 | 4.11.6-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 4.11.6-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 4.11.6-1 | — |
| Debian 9 | linux | 4.9.30-2+deb9u3 | DSA-3927-1 |
| Debian 8 | linux | 3.16.43-2+deb8u3 | DSA-3945-1 |
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 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp +4 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux | 4.4.0-87.110 | USN-3364-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-aws | 4.4.0-1026.35 | USN-3364-3 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-gke | 4.4.0-1022.22 | USN-3364-3 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe | 4.10.0-32.36~16.04.1 | USN-3371-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-raspi2 | 4.4.0-1065.73 | USN-3364-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-snapdragon | 4.4.0-1067.72 | USN-3364-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux | 3.13.0-125.174 | USN-3360-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux-lts-xenial | 4.4.0-87.110~14.04.1 | USN-3364-2 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | kernel-uek +5 | 4.1.12-124.45.6.el7uek | ELSA-2020-5962 |
Advisories 8
- USN-3364-1 linux, linux-raspi2, linux-snapdragon vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- USN-3360-1 linux vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DSA-3945-1 linux - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-3927-1 linux - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- USN-3371-1 linux-hwe vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- USN-3364-2 linux-lts-xenial vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- USN-3364-3 linux-aws, linux-gke vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- ELSA-2020-5962 Important: Unbreakable Enterprise kernel security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Dec 2, 2020