Description
kernel/sched/fair.c in the Linux kernel before 5.3.9, when cpu.cfs_quota_us is used (e.g., with Kubernetes), allows attackers to cause a denial of service against non-cpu-bound applications by generating a workload that triggers unwanted slice expiration, aka CID-de53fd7aedb1. (In other words, although this slice expiration would typically be seen with benign workloads, it is possible that an attacker could calculate how many stray requests are required to force an entire Kubernetes cluster into a low-performance state caused by slice expiration, and ensure that a DDoS attack sent that number of stray requests. An attack does not affect the stability of the kernel; it only causes mismanagement of application execution.)
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 | 5.3.9-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 5.3.9-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 5.3.9-1 | — |
| Debian 8 | linux | 3.16.81-1 | DLA-2068-1 |
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 | 4.15.0-69.78 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-aws | 4.15.0-1054.56 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-aws-5.0 | 5.0.0-1023.26~18.04.1 | USN-4226-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-azure | 5.0.0-1027.29~18.04.1 | USN-4226-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-azure-5.3 | 5.3.0-1008.9~18.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 5.0.0-1028.29~18.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp-5.3 | 5.3.0-1009.10~18.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp-edge +1 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gke-4.15 | 4.15.0-1048.51 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gke-5.0 | 5.0.0-1027.28~18.04.1 | USN-4226-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-hwe | 5.3.0-26.28~18.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-hwe-edge | 5.3.0-24.26~18.04.2 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-kvm | 4.15.0-1050.50 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-oem | 4.15.0-1063.72 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-oem-osp1 | 5.0.0-1033.38 | USN-4226-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 4.15.0-1029.32 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-oracle-5.0 | 5.0.0-1009.14~18.04.1 | USN-4226-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-raspi2 | 4.15.0-1050.54 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-snapdragon | 4.15.0-1067.74 | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-aws-hwe | 4.15.0-1054.56~16.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-azure | 4.15.0-1063.68 | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 4.15.0-1049.52 | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe | 4.15.0-69.78~16.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe-edge | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 4.15.0-1029.32~16.04.1 | — |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | linux-azure | 4.15.0-1063.68~14.04.1 | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 8 | kernel-rt +12 | 4.18.0-193.rt13.51.el8 | RHSA-2020:1567 |
| RHEL 8 | perf +26 | 4.18.0-193.el8 | RHSA-2020:1769 |
| RHEL 7 | perf +13 | 4.14.0-115.19.1.el7a | RHSA-2020:1493 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 8 | perf +19 | 4.18.0-193.el8 | ELSA-2020-1769 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | perf +10 | 4.14.35-1902.306.2.el7uek | ELSA-2020-5845 |
Advisories 7
- RHSA-2020:1493 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-alt security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Oct 9, 2026
- USN-4226-1 linux, linux-aws, linux-aws-5.0, linux-azure, linux-gcp, linux-gke-5.0, linux-kvm, linux-oem-osp1, linux-oracle, linux-oracle-5.0, linux-raspi2 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Sep 9, 2026
- RHSA-2020:1769 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Aug 22, 2026
- RHSA-2020:1567 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Aug 7, 2026
- DLA-2068-1 linux - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- ELSA-2020-5845 Important: Unbreakable Enterprise kernel security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Sep 11, 2020
- ELSA-2020-1769 Important: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update (Oracle Linux 8) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · May 5, 2020
References
- USN-4226-1 vendor-advisory
- [debian-lts-announce] 20200118 [SECURITY] [DLA 2068-1] linux security update mailing-list
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuApr2021.html
- https://cdn.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v5.x/ChangeLog-5.3.9
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/de53fd7aedb100f03e5d2231cfce0e4993282425
- https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=de53fd7aedb100f03e5d2231cfce0e4993282425
- https://relistan.com/the-kernel-may-be-slowing-down-your-app
- https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/issues/67577
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20200204-0002/