USN-3777-2: Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities

Releases

• Ubuntu 16.04 ESM

Packages

• linux-gcp - Linux kernel for Google Cloud Platform (GCP) systems
• linux-hwe - Linux hardware enablement (HWE) kernel

Details

USN-3777-1 fixed vulnerabilities in the Linux kernel for Ubuntu 18.04
LTS. This update provides the corresponding updates for the Linux
Hardware Enablement (HWE) kernel from Ubuntu 18.04 LTS for Ubuntu
16.04 LTS.

Jann Horn discovered that the vmacache subsystem did not properly handle
sequence number overflows, leading to a use-after-free vulnerability. A
local attacker could use this to cause a denial of service (system crash)
or execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2018-17182)

It was discovered that the paravirtualization implementation in the Linux
kernel did not properly handle some indirect calls, reducing the
effectiveness of Spectre v2 mitigations for paravirtual guests. A local
attacker could use this to expose sensitive information. (CVE-2018-15594)

It was discovered that microprocessors utilizing speculative execution and
prediction of return addresses via Return Stack Buffer (RSB) may allow
unauthorized memory reads via sidechannel attacks. An attacker could use
this to expose sensitive information. (CVE-2018-15572)

Andy Lutomirski and Mika Penttilä discovered that the KVM implementation
in the Linux kernel did not properly check privilege levels when emulating
some instructions. An unprivileged attacker in a guest VM could use this to
escalate privileges within the guest. (CVE-2018-10853)

It was discovered that a stack-based buffer overflow existed in the iSCSI
target implementation of the Linux kernel. A remote attacker could use this
to cause a denial of service (system crash). (CVE-2018-14633)

It was discovered that a memory leak existed in the IRDA subsystem of the
Linux kernel. A local attacker could use this to cause a denial of service
(kernel memory exhaustion). (CVE-2018-6554)

It was discovered that a use-after-free vulnerability existed in the IRDA
implementation in the Linux kernel. A local attacker could use this to
cause a denial of service (system crash) or possibly execute arbitrary
code. (CVE-2018-6555)

USN 3653-2 added a mitigation for Speculative Store Bypass
a.k.a. Spectre Variant 4 (CVE-2018-3639). This update provides the
corresponding mitigation for ARM64 processors. Please note that for
this mitigation to be effective, an updated firmware for the processor
may be required.
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Update instructions

The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following package versions:

Ubuntu 16.04

• linux-image-4.15.0-36-generic - 4.15.0-36.39~16.04.1
• linux-image-4.15.0-36-generic-lpae - 4.15.0-36.39~16.04.1
• linux-image-4.15.0-36-lowlatency - 4.15.0-36.39~16.04.1

After a standard system update you need to reboot your computer to make
all the necessary changes.

ATTENTION: Due to an unavoidable ABI change the kernel updates have
been given a new version number, which requires you to recompile and
reinstall all third party kernel modules you might have installed.
Unless you manually uninstalled the standard kernel metapackages
(e.g. linux-generic, linux-generic-lts-RELEASE, linux-virtual,
linux-powerpc), a standard system upgrade will automatically perform
this as well.

References

• CVE-2018-10853
• CVE-2018-14633
• CVE-2018-15572
• CVE-2018-15594
• CVE-2018-17182
• CVE-2018-6554
• CVE-2018-6555
• https://wiki.ubuntu.com/SecurityTeam/KnowledgeBase/Variant4

Related notices

• USN-3777-1: linux-raspi2, linux-image-4.15.0-36-generic, linux, linux-image-unsigned-4.15.0-36-generic, linux-kvm, linux-image-4.15.0-1023-kvm, linux-image-unsigned-4.15.0-1021-oem, linux-image-unsigned-4.15.0-1021-gcp, linux-image-4.15.0-1024-raspi2, linux-image-unsigned-4.15.0-36-lowlatency, linux-image-4.15.0-36-snapdragon, linux-image-4.15.0-1023-aws, linux-oem, linux-aws, linux-image-4.15.0-36-generic-lpae, linux-image-4.15.0-36-lowlatency, linux-gcp
• USN-3776-1: linux-image-4.4.0-137-generic, linux, linux-image-4.4.0-1098-raspi2, linux-image-4.4.0-1035-kvm, linux-image-4.4.0-1102-snapdragon, linux-image-4.4.0-137-powerpc-smp, linux-image-extra-4.4.0-137-generic, linux-kvm, linux-image-4.4.0-1069-aws, linux-image-4.4.0-137-powerpc-e500mc, linux-image-4.4.0-137-generic-lpae, linux-image-4.4.0-137-powerpc64-smp, linux-image-4.4.0-137-lowlatency, linux-image-4.4.0-137-powerpc64-emb, linux-snapdragon, linux-aws, linux-raspi2
• USN-3776-2: linux-image-4.4.0-137-generic, linux-image-extra-4.4.0-137-generic, linux-image-4.4.0-1031-aws, linux-image-4.4.0-137-powerpc-smp, linux-lts-xenial, linux-image-4.4.0-137-powerpc-e500mc, linux-image-4.4.0-137-generic-lpae, linux-image-4.4.0-137-powerpc64-smp, linux-image-4.4.0-137-lowlatency, linux-image-4.4.0-137-powerpc64-emb, linux-aws
• USN-3777-3: linux-image-unsigned-4.15.0-1025-azure, linux-azure
• USN-3779-1: linux, linux-image-3.2.0-136-generic-pae, linux-image-3.2.0-136-virtual, linux-image-powerpc64-smp, linux-image-3.2.0-136-powerpc-smp, linux-image-generic, linux-image-3.2.0-136-generic, linux-image-generic-pae, linux-image-highbank, linux-image-3.2.0-136-highbank, linux-image-omap, linux-image-3.2.0-136-omap, linux-image-powerpc, linux-image-powerpc-smp, linux-image-3.2.0-136-powerpc64-smp
• USN-3775-2: linux-image-3.13.0-160-generic, linux-image-generic-lpae-lts-trusty, linux-image-generic-lts-trusty, linux-image-3.13.0-160-generic-lpae, linux-lts-trusty
• USN-3775-1: linux-image-3.13.0-160-powerpc-e500, linux, linux-image-3.13.0-160-powerpc64-smp, linux-image-3.13.0-160-generic, linux-image-3.13.0-160-powerpc-smp, linux-image-extra-3.13.0-160-generic, linux-image-3.13.0-160-powerpc64-emb, linux-image-3.13.0-160-powerpc-e500mc, linux-image-3.13.0-160-generic-lpae, linux-image-3.13.0-160-lowlatency