Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
efi: runtime: avoid EFIv2 runtime services on Apple x86 machines
Aditya reports [0] that his recent MacbookPro crashes in the firmware
when using the variable services at runtime. The culprit appears to be a
call to QueryVariableInfo(), which we did not use to call on Apple x86
machines in the past as they only upgraded from EFI v1.10 to EFI v2.40
firmware fairly recently, and QueryVariableInfo() (along with
UpdateCapsule() et al) was added in EFI v2.00.
The only runtime service introduced in EFI v2.00 that we actually use in
Linux is QueryVariableInfo(), as the capsule based ones are optional,
generally not used at runtime (all the LVFS/fwupd firmware update
infrastructure uses helper EFI programs that invoke capsule update at
boot time, not runtime), and not implemented by Apple machines in the
first place. QueryVariableInfo() is used to 'safely' set variables,
i.e., only when there is enough space. This prevents machines with buggy
firmwares from corrupting their NVRAMs when they run out of space.
Given that Apple machines have been using EFI v1.10 services only for
the longest time (the EFI v2.0 spec was released in 2006, and Linux
support for the newly introduced runtime services was added in 2011, but
the MacbookPro12,1 released in 2015 still claims to be EFI v1.10 only),
let's avoid the EFI v2.0 ones on all Apple x86 machines.
[0] https://lore.kernel.org/all/6D757C75-65B1-468B-842D-10410081A8E4@live.com/
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 3.2.32 – < 3.3, 3.4.14 – < 3.5, 3.5.7 – < 3.6, 3.6.2 – < 3.7, 3.7 | 3.3 |
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 | 5.16.7-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 5.16.7-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 5.16.7-1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-raspi-realtime | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv +22 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gke +27 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp +14 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe-edge | No fix yet | — |
Show 10 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS 20.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS 18.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS 16.04 LTS | linux-fips | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 18.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 16.04 LTS | linux-fips | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux +10 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | linux +12 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | linux +7 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | linux +3 | No fix yet | — |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP5 | kernel-64kb +5 | 5.14.21-150500.55.73.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2939-1 |
| SLES 15 SP5 | kernel-azure +2 | 5.14.21-150500.33.60.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2372-1 |
| SLES 15 SP5 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150500.55.73.1.150500.6.33.8 | SUSE-SU-2024:2939-1 |
| SLES 15 SP5 | kernel-docs | 5.14.21-150500.55.73.2 | SUSE-SU-2024:2939-1 |
| SLES 15 SP4 | kernel-64kb +6 | 5.14.21-150400.24.128.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 |
| SLES 15 SP4 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.128.1.150400.24.62.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 |
| SLES 12 SP5 | kernel-azure +2 | 4.12.14-16.197.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:3252-1 |
| SLES 12 SP5 | kernel-docs +1 | 4.12.14-122.228.2 | SUSE-SU-2024:3251-1 |
| SLES 12 SP5 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.12.14-122.228.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:3251-1 |
Show 13 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 15 SP4 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.128.1.150400.24.62.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP4 | kernel-docs +4 | 5.14.21-150400.24.128.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP5 | kernel-azure +2 | 4.12.14-16.197.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:3252-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP5 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.12.14-122.228.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:3251-1 |
| SLE Real Time 12 SP5 | kernel-rt +3 | 4.12.14-10.200.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:3189-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.5 | kernel-default | 5.14.21-150500.55.73.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2939-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.5 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150500.55.73.1.150500.6.33.8 | SUSE-SU-2024:2939-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.5 | kernel-rt +1 | 5.14.21-150500.13.61.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2394-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.4 | kernel-default | 5.14.21-150400.24.128.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.4 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.128.1.150400.24.62.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.4 | kernel-rt +1 | 5.14.21-150400.15.88.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2902-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.3 | kernel-default | 5.14.21-150400.24.128.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.3 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.128.1.150400.24.62.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.3 | kernel-rt +1 | 5.14.21-150400.15.88.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2902-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP5 | kernel-default | 5.14.21-150500.55.73.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2939-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP5 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP5_Update_17 +1 | 1-150500.11.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2939-1, SUSE-SU-2024:2394-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP4 | kernel-default | 5.14.21-150400.24.128.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP4 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP4_Update_29 | 1-150400.9.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 SP5 | kernel-default | 4.12.14-122.228.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:3251-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 SP5 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP5_Update_60 | 1-8.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:3251-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP4 | kernel-64kb +5 | 5.14.21-150400.24.128.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP4 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.128.1.150400.24.62.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 |
| SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP5 | kernel-rt +3 | 5.14.21-150500.13.61.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2394-1 |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.3 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.128.1.150400.24.62.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.3 | kernel-syms +3 | 5.14.21-150400.24.128.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.3 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.128.1.150400.24.62.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.3 | kernel-syms +2 | 5.14.21-150400.24.128.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Leap 15.5 | dtb-aarch64 +9 | 5.14.21-150500.55.73.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2939-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.5 | kernel-azure +2 | 5.14.21-150500.33.60.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2372-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.5 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150500.55.73.1.150500.6.33.8 | SUSE-SU-2024:2939-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.5 | kernel-docs | 5.14.21-150500.55.73.2 | SUSE-SU-2024:2939-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.5 | kernel-rt +3 | 5.14.21-150500.13.61.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2394-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Leap Micro 5.5 | kernel-default | 5.14.21-150500.55.73.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2939-1 |
| openSUSE Leap Micro 5.5 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150500.55.73.1.150500.6.33.8 | SUSE-SU-2024:2939-1 |
Advisories 9
- WID-SEC-2024-1422 Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen nicht spezifizierten Angriff BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Oct 29, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2024:3189-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2024:2394-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2024:2939-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2024:3252-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2024:2902-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2024:2929-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2024:3251-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2024:2372-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026