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CVE-2017-15306: Linux kernel KVM on PowerPC may crash system

CVE-2017-15306 · published 9 years ago

Summary

The KVM component of the Linux kernel for PowerPC processors can be forced to stop working, causing the whole machine to freeze or restart. This can be triggered by a normal user running a specific command that talks to /dev/kvm. Updating to a kernel version later than 4.13.11 fixes the problem.

What to do

The CVE record does not list a fixed version. Check the vendor's site or the advisory links below - a fix may already be released.

Affected software

Vendor	Product	Affected versions
linux	linux_kernel	<= 4.13.10 `cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel::::::::`

Original advisory text

The kvm_vm_ioctl_check_extension function in arch/powerpc/kvm/powerpc.c in the Linux kernel before 4.13.11 allows local users to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and system crash...

References

http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=ac6411... Patch
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/11/06/6 Mailing List Patch Third Party Advisory
http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.13.11 Release Notes
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/101693 Third Party Advisory VDB Entry
https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/ac64115a66c18c01745bbd3c47a36b124e5fd8c... Patch

Fix within

Internet-facing 60 days

Internal At next upgrade

Not known to be exploited
Needs hands-on effort to exploit (estimated)
Gives an attacker partial control (estimated)

Severity

5.5 Medium

Exploitation

<1% chance of attack within 30 days

Type

CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference

Timeline

Published6 Nov 2017

Updated4 Nov 2026

First seen29 Sep 2026

Sources

CVE-2017-15306 · NVD

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