USN-5071-2: Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities

16 September 2021

Several security issues were fixed in the Linux kernel.

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Details

USN-5071-1 fixed vulnerabilities in the Linux kernel for Ubuntu 20.04
LTS. This update provides the corresponding updates for the Linux
Hardware Enablement (HWE) kernel from Ubuntu 20.04 LTS for Ubuntu
18.04 LTS.

Maxim Levitsky and Paolo Bonzini discovered that the KVM hypervisor
implementation for AMD processors in the Linux kernel allowed a guest VM to
disable restrictions on VMLOAD/VMSAVE in a nested guest. An attacker in a
guest VM could use this to read or write portions of the host's physical
memory. (CVE-2021-3656)

Maxim Levitsky discovered that the KVM hypervisor implementation for AMD
processors in the Linux kernel did not properly prevent a guest VM from
enabling AVIC in nested guest VMs. An attacker in a guest VM could use this
to write to portions of the host's physical memory. (CVE-2021-3653)

It was discovered that the KVM hypervisor implementation for AMD processors
in the Linux kernel did not ensure enough processing time was given to
perform cleanups of large SEV VMs. A local attacker could use this to cause
a denial of service (soft lockup). (CVE-2020-36311)

It was discovered that the KVM hypervisor implementation in the Linux
kernel did not properly perform reference counting in some situations,
leading to a use-after-free vulnerability. An attacker who could start and
control a VM could possibly use this to expose sensitive information or
execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2021-22543)

Murray McAllister discovered that the joystick device interface in the
Linux kernel did not properly validate data passed via an ioctl(). A local
attacker could use this to cause a denial of service (system crash) or
possibly execute arbitrary code on systems with a joystick device
registered. (CVE-2021-3612)

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Update instructions

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

Ubuntu 18.04

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

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