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High · 7.1 CVE-2021-47465 EUVD-2021-34470GHSA-r7pj-34j8-6jgg

KVM: PPC: Book3S HV: Fix stack handling in idle_kvm_start_guest()

Published May 22, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026 · Assigned by Linux

Vendor: Linux Product: Linux Package: linux Package: linux Package: linux-allwinner-5.19 Package: linux-aws Package: linux-aws-5.0 Package: linux-aws-5.11 Package: linux-aws-5.13 Package: linux-aws-5.19 Package: linux-aws-5.3 Package: linux-aws-5.4 Package: linux-aws-5.8 Package: linux-aws-6.2 Package: linux-aws-fips Package: linux-azure Package: linux-azure-5.11 Package: linux-azure-5.13 Package: linux-azure-5.19 Package: linux-azure-5.3 Package: linux-azure-5.4 Package: linux-azure-5.8 Package: linux-azure-6.2 Package: linux-azure-edge Package: linux-azure-fde Package: linux-azure-fde-5.19 Package: linux-azure-fde-6.2 Package: linux-azure-fips Package: linux-bluefield Package: linux-fips Package: linux-gcp Package: linux-gcp-5.11 Package: linux-gcp-5.13 Package: linux-gcp-5.19 Package: linux-gcp-5.3 Package: linux-gcp-5.4 Package: linux-gcp-5.8 Package: linux-gcp-6.2 Package: linux-gcp-fips Package: linux-gke Package: linux-gke-4.15 Package: linux-gke-5.15 Package: linux-gke-5.4 Package: linux-gkeop Package: linux-gkeop-5.4 Package: linux-hwe Package: linux-hwe-5.11 Package: linux-hwe-5.13 Package: linux-hwe-5.19 Package: linux-hwe-5.4 Package: linux-hwe-5.8 Package: linux-hwe-6.2 Package: linux-hwe-edge Package: linux-ibm Package: linux-intel-5.13 Package: linux-intel-iot-realtime Package: linux-kvm Package: linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19 Package: linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2 Package: linux-nvidia-6.2 Package: linux-oem Package: linux-oem-5.10 Package: linux-oem-5.13 Package: linux-oem-5.14 Package: linux-oem-5.17 Package: linux-oem-5.6 Package: linux-oem-6.0 Package: linux-oem-6.1 Package: linux-oracle Package: linux-oracle-5.0 Package: linux-oracle-5.11 Package: linux-oracle-5.13 Package: linux-oracle-5.3 Package: linux-oracle-5.4 Package: linux-oracle-5.8 Package: linux-raspi Package: linux-raspi-5.4 Package: linux-raspi-realtime Package: linux-raspi2 Package: linux-realtime Package: linux-riscv Package: linux-riscv-5.11 Package: linux-riscv-5.19 Package: linux-riscv-5.8 Package: linux-starfive-5.19 Package: linux-starfive-6.2 Package: linux-vmware Platform: Linux Ecosystem: Debian Ecosystem: Ubuntu

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

KVM: PPC: Book3S HV: Fix stack handling in idle_kvm_start_guest()

In commit 10d91611f426 ("powerpc/64s: Reimplement book3s idle code in
C") kvm_start_guest() became idle_kvm_start_guest(). The old code
allocated a stack frame on the emergency stack, but didn't use the
frame to store anything, and also didn't store anything in its caller's
frame.

idle_kvm_start_guest() on the other hand is written more like a normal C
function, it creates a frame on entry, and also stores CR/LR into its
callers frame (per the ABI). The problem is that there is no caller
frame on the emergency stack.

The emergency stack for a given CPU is allocated with:

paca_ptrs[i]->emergency_sp = alloc_stack(limit, i) + THREAD_SIZE;

So emergency_sp actually points to the first address above the emergency
stack allocation for a given CPU, we must not store above it without
first decrementing it to create a frame. This is different to the
regular kernel stack, paca->kstack, which is initialised to point at an
initial frame that is ready to use.

idle_kvm_start_guest() stores the backchain, CR and LR all of which
write outside the allocation for the emergency stack. It then creates a
stack frame and saves the non-volatile registers. Unfortunately the
frame it creates is not large enough to fit the non-volatiles, and so
the saving of the non-volatile registers also writes outside the
emergency stack allocation.

The end result is that we corrupt whatever is at 0-24 bytes, and 112-248
bytes above the emergency stack allocation.

In practice this has gone unnoticed because the memory immediately above
the emergency stack happens to be used for other stack allocations,
either another CPUs mc_emergency_sp or an IRQ stack. See the order of
calls to irqstack_early_init() and emergency_stack_init().

The low addresses of another stack are the top of that stack, and so are
only used if that stack is under extreme pressue, which essentially
never happens in practice - and if it did there's a high likelyhood we'd
crash due to that stack overflowing.

Still, we shouldn't be corrupting someone else's stack, and it is purely
luck that we aren't corrupting something else.

To fix it we save CR/LR into the caller's frame using the existing r1 on
entry, we then create a SWITCH_FRAME_SIZE frame (which has space for
pt_regs) on the emergency stack with the backchain pointing to the
existing stack, and then finally we switch to the new frame on the
emergency stack.

Affected products

VendorProductAffectedFixed
Linux Linux 5.2 5.4.156

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.

ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Debian 14 linux 5.14.16-1 —
Debian 13 linux 5.14.16-1 —
Debian 12 linux 5.14.16-1 —
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS linux-raspi-realtime No fix yet —
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS linux-riscv +22 No fix yet —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux 5.4.0-92.103 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-aws 5.4.0-1061.64 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-azure 5.4.0-1065.68 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-bluefield 5.4.0-1023.26 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-gcp +1 5.4.0-1059.63 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-gke +26 No fix yet —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-gkeop 5.4.0-1029.30 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-ibm 5.4.0-1010.11 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-kvm 5.4.0-1051.53 —
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS linux-raspi 5.4.0-1048.53 —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-aws-5.4 5.4.0-1061.64~18.04.1 —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-azure-5.4 5.4.0-1065.68~18.04.1 —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-gcp +14 No fix yet —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-gcp-5.4 +1 5.4.0-1059.63~18.04.1 —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-hwe-5.4 5.4.0-92.103~18.04.2 —
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS linux-raspi-5.4 5.4.0-1048.53~18.04.1 —
Ubuntu 16.04 LTS linux-hwe-edge No fix yet —
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Ubuntu Pro FIPS 20.04 LTS linux-fips +3 No fix yet —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS linux-aws-fips 5.4.0-1069.73+fips2 —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS linux-azure-fips 5.4.0-1073.76+fips1 —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS linux-fips 5.4.0-1038.44 —
Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS linux-gcp-fips 5.4.0-1067.71~20.04.1 —
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
SLES 15 SP5 kernel-64kb +6 5.14.21-150500.55.68.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2190-1
SLES 15 SP5 kernel-azure +2 5.14.21-150500.33.57.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2019-1
SLES 15 SP5 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150500.55.68.1.150500.6.31.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2190-1
SLES 15 SP4 kernel-64kb +4 5.14.21-150400.24.122.2 SUSE-SU-2024:2189-1
SLES 15 SP4 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150400.24.122.2.150400.24.58.2 SUSE-SU-2024:2189-1
SLES 15 SP4 kernel-syms +1 5.14.21-150400.24.122.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2189-1
SLES 15 SP3 kernel-64kb +7 5.3.18-150300.59.164.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2185-1
SLES 15 SP3 kernel-default-base 5.3.18-150300.59.164.1.150300.18.96.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2185-1
SLES 15 SP2 kernel-default-base 5.3.18-150200.24.194.1.150200.9.99.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2183-1
SLES 15 SP2 kernel-docs +5 5.3.18-150200.24.194.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2183-1
Show 19 more (older releases, extended support, other products)
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
SLES for SAP 15 SP4 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150400.24.122.2.150400.24.58.2 SUSE-SU-2024:2189-1
SLES for SAP 15 SP4 kernel-docs +2 5.14.21-150400.24.122.2 SUSE-SU-2024:2189-1
SLES for SAP 15 SP4 kernel-syms +1 5.14.21-150400.24.122.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2189-1
SLES for SAP 15 SP3 kernel-default-base 5.3.18-150300.59.164.1.150300.18.96.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2185-1
SLES for SAP 15 SP3 kernel-docs +5 5.3.18-150300.59.164.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2185-1
SLES for SAP 15 SP2 kernel-default-base 5.3.18-150200.24.194.1.150200.9.99.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2183-1
SLES for SAP 15 SP2 kernel-docs +5 5.3.18-150200.24.194.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2183-1
SLE Micro 5.5 kernel-default 5.14.21-150500.55.68.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2190-1
SLE Micro 5.5 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150500.55.68.1.150500.6.31.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2190-1
SLE Micro 5.5 kernel-rt +1 5.14.21-150500.13.58.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2008-1
SLE Micro 5.4 kernel-default 5.14.21-150400.24.122.2 SUSE-SU-2024:2189-1
SLE Micro 5.4 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150400.24.122.2.150400.24.58.2 SUSE-SU-2024:2189-1
SLE Micro 5.4 kernel-rt +1 5.14.21-150400.15.82.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2011-1
SLE Micro 5.3 kernel-default 5.14.21-150400.24.122.2 SUSE-SU-2024:2189-1
SLE Micro 5.3 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150400.24.122.2.150400.24.58.2 SUSE-SU-2024:2189-1
SLE Micro 5.3 kernel-rt +1 5.14.21-150400.15.82.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2011-1
SLE Micro 5.2 kernel-default 5.3.18-150300.59.164.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2185-1
SLE Micro 5.2 kernel-default-base 5.3.18-150300.59.164.1.150300.18.96.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2185-1
SLE Micro 5.2 kernel-rt +1 5.3.18-150300.172.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2010-1
SLE Micro 5.1 kernel-default 5.3.18-150300.59.164.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2185-1
SLE Micro 5.1 kernel-default-base 5.3.18-150300.59.164.1.150300.18.96.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2185-1
SLE Micro 5.1 kernel-rt +1 5.3.18-150300.172.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2010-1
SLE Live Patching 15 SP5 kernel-default 5.14.21-150500.55.68.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2190-1
SLE Live Patching 15 SP5 kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP5_Update_15 +1 1-150500.11.3.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2190-1, SUSE-SU-2024:2008-1
SLE Live Patching 15 SP4 kernel-default 5.14.21-150400.24.122.2 SUSE-SU-2024:2189-1
SLE Live Patching 15 SP4 kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP4_Update_27 1-150400.9.3.2 SUSE-SU-2024:2189-1
SLE Live Patching 15 SP3 kernel-default 5.3.18-150300.59.164.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2185-1
SLE Live Patching 15 SP3 kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP3_Update_45 1-150300.7.3.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2185-1
SLE Live Patching 15 SP2 kernel-default 5.3.18-150200.24.194.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2183-1
SLE Live Patching 15 SP2 kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP2_Update_49 1-150200.5.3.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2183-1
SLE HPC 15 SP4 kernel-64kb +3 5.14.21-150400.24.122.2 SUSE-SU-2024:2189-1
SLE HPC 15 SP4 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150400.24.122.2.150400.24.58.2 SUSE-SU-2024:2189-1
SLE HPC 15 SP4 kernel-syms +1 5.14.21-150400.24.122.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2189-1
SLE HPC 15 SP3 kernel-64kb +6 5.3.18-150300.59.164.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2185-1
SLE HPC 15 SP3 kernel-default-base 5.3.18-150300.59.164.1.150300.18.96.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2185-1
SLE HPC 15 SP2 kernel-default-base 5.3.18-150200.24.194.1.150200.9.99.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2183-1
SLE HPC 15 SP2 kernel-docs +5 5.3.18-150200.24.194.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2183-1
SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP5 kernel-rt +3 5.14.21-150500.13.58.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2008-1
SUSE Manager Server 4.3 kernel-default +1 5.14.21-150400.24.122.2 SUSE-SU-2024:2189-1
SUSE Manager Server 4.3 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150400.24.122.2.150400.24.58.2 SUSE-SU-2024:2189-1
SUSE Manager Server 4.3 kernel-syms +1 5.14.21-150400.24.122.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2189-1
SUSE Manager Proxy 4.3 kernel-default 5.14.21-150400.24.122.2 SUSE-SU-2024:2189-1
SUSE Manager Proxy 4.3 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150400.24.122.2.150400.24.58.2 SUSE-SU-2024:2189-1
SUSE Manager Proxy 4.3 kernel-syms +1 5.14.21-150400.24.122.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2189-1
SUSE Enterprise Storage 7.1 kernel-64kb +6 5.3.18-150300.59.164.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2185-1
SUSE Enterprise Storage 7.1 kernel-default-base 5.3.18-150300.59.164.1.150300.18.96.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2185-1
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
openSUSE Leap 15.5 dtb-aarch64 +10 5.14.21-150500.55.68.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2190-1
openSUSE Leap 15.5 kernel-azure +2 5.14.21-150500.33.57.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2019-1
openSUSE Leap 15.5 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150500.55.68.1.150500.6.31.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2190-1
openSUSE Leap 15.5 kernel-rt +3 5.14.21-150500.13.58.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2008-1
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
openSUSE Leap Micro 5.4 kernel-default 5.14.21-150400.24.122.2 SUSE-SU-2024:2189-1
openSUSE Leap Micro 5.4 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150400.24.122.2.150400.24.58.2 SUSE-SU-2024:2189-1
openSUSE Leap Micro 5.4 kernel-rt 5.14.21-150400.15.82.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2011-1
openSUSE Leap Micro 5.3 kernel-default 5.14.21-150400.24.122.2 SUSE-SU-2024:2189-1
openSUSE Leap Micro 5.3 kernel-default-base 5.14.21-150400.24.122.2.150400.24.58.2 SUSE-SU-2024:2189-1
openSUSE Leap Micro 5.3 kernel-rt 5.14.21-150400.15.82.1 SUSE-SU-2024:2011-1

Advisories 9

References