Description
Linux kernel vhost since version 4.8 does not properly initialize memory in messages passed between virtual guests and the host operating system in the vhost/vhost.c:vhost_new_msg() function. This can allow local privileged users to read some kernel memory contents when reading from the /dev/vhost-net device file.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| kernel | vhost | since 4.8 | — |
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 | 4.17.3-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 4.17.3-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 4.17.3-1 | — |
| Debian 8 | linux-4.9 | 4.9.110-1~deb8u1 | DLA-1423-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux | 4.15.0-34.37 | USN-3762-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-aws +1 | 4.15.0-1021.21 | USN-3762-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-azure | 4.15.0-1023.24 | USN-3762-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 4.15.0-1019.20 | USN-3762-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-oem | 4.15.0-1018.21 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-raspi2 | 4.15.0-1022.24 | USN-3762-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-azure | 4.15.0-1023.24~16.04.1 | USN-3762-2 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 4.15.0-1019.20~16.04.1 | USN-3762-2 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe | 4.15.0-34.37~16.04.1 | USN-3762-2 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | kernel-alt +1 | 4.14.0-115.el7a | RHSA-2018:2948 |
| RHEL 7 | kernel-rt +10 | 3.10.0-957.rt56.910.el7 | RHSA-2018:3096 |
| RHEL 7 | perf +18 | 3.10.0-957.el7 | RHSA-2018:3083, RHSA-2018:2948 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 | kernel-azure +2 | 4.12.14-5.8.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:2222-1 |
| SLES 15 | kernel-docs +6 | 4.12.14-25.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:2092-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLE Live Patching 15 | kernel-default | 4.12.14-25.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:2092-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15_Update_1 | 1-1.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:2092-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | kernel-source | 5.14.6-1.4 | openSUSE-SU-2024:13704-1, openSUSE-SU-2024:10728-1 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | perf +12 | 3.10.0-957.el7 | ELSA-2018-3083 |
Advisories 11
- RHSA-2018:3083 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jul 8, 2026
- RHSA-2018:3096 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jul 8, 2026
- RHSA-2018:2948 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-alt security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jul 1, 2026
- USN-3762-1 linux, linux-aws, linux-azure, linux-gcp, linux-kvm, linux-raspi2 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DLA-1423-1 linux-4.9 - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- USN-3762-2 linux-hwe, linux-azure, linux-gcp vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:13704-1 kernel-devel-longterm-6.6.17-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:2092-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:2222-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10728-1 kernel-devel-5.14.6-1.4 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- ELSA-2018-3083 Important: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Nov 5, 2018
References
- RHSA-2018:3083 vendor-advisory
- USN-3762-1 vendor-advisory
- [debian-lts-announce] 20180718 [SECURITY] [DLA 1423-1] linux-4.9 new package mailing-list
- RHSA-2018:2948 vendor-advisory
- USN-3762-2 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2018:3096 vendor-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2018-1118