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Ubuntu 16.04 LTS : Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities (USN-3523-2)

high Nessus Plugin ID 105747

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Synopsis

The remote Ubuntu host is missing one or more security updates.

Description

The remote Ubuntu 16.04 LTS host has a package installed that is affected by multiple vulnerabilities as referenced in the USN-3523-2 advisory.

 USN-3523-1 fixed vulnerabilities in the Linux kernel for Ubuntu 17.10. This update provides the corresponding updates for the Linux Hardware Enablement (HWE) kernel from Ubuntu 17.10 for Ubuntu 16.04 LTS.

 Jann Horn discovered that microprocessors utilizing speculative execution and indirect branch prediction may allow unauthorized memory reads via sidechannel attacks. This flaw is known as Meltdown. A local attacker could use this to expose sensitive information, including kernel memory. (CVE-2017-5754)

 Jann Horn discovered that the Berkeley Packet Filter (BPF) implementation in the Linux kernel did not properly check the relationship between pointer values and the BPF stack. A local attacker could use this to cause a denial of service (system crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2017-17863)

 Jann Horn discovered that the Berkeley Packet Filter (BPF) implementation in the Linux kernel improperly performed sign extension in some situations. A local attacker could use this to cause a denial of service (system crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2017-16995)

 Alexei Starovoitov discovered that the Berkeley Packet Filter (BPF) implementation in the Linux kernel contained a branch-pruning logic issue around unreachable code. A local attacker could use this to cause a denial of service. (CVE-2017-17862)

 Jann Horn discovered that the Berkeley Packet Filter (BPF) implementation in the Linux kernel mishandled pointer data values in some situations. A local attacker could use this to to expose sensitive information (kernel memory). (CVE-2017-17864)

Tenable has extracted the preceding description block directly from the Ubuntu security advisory.

Note that Nessus has not tested for these issues but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version number.

Solution

Update the affected kernel package.

See Also

https://ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-3523-2

Plugin Details

Severity: High

ID: 105747

File Name: ubuntu_USN-3523-2.nasl

Version: 3.21

Type: local

Agent: unix

Published: 1/11/2018

Updated: 8/27/2024

Supported Sensors: Agentless Assessment, Continuous Assessment, Frictionless Assessment Agent, Frictionless Assessment AWS, Frictionless Assessment Azure, Nessus Agent, Nessus

Risk Information

VPR

Risk Factor: Critical

Score: 9.7

CVSS v2

Risk Factor: High

Base Score: 7.2

Temporal Score: 6.3

Vector: CVSS2#AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

CVSS Score Source: CVE-2017-17863

CVSS v3

Risk Factor: High

Base Score: 7.8

Temporal Score: 7.5

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Temporal Vector: CVSS:3.0/E:H/RL:O/RC:C

Vulnerability Information

CPE: cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:-:lts, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-image-4.13.0-1005-azure, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-image-4.13.0-26-generic, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-image-4.13.0-1015-oem, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-image-4.13.0-1006-gcp, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-image-4.13.0-26-generic-lpae, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-image-4.13.0-26-lowlatency

Required KB Items: Host/cpu, Host/Ubuntu, Host/Ubuntu/release, Host/Debian/dpkg-l

Exploit Available: true

Exploit Ease: Exploits are available

Patch Publication Date: 1/10/2018

Vulnerability Publication Date: 12/27/2017

Exploitable With

Core Impact

Metasploit (Linux BPF Sign Extension Local Privilege Escalation)

Reference Information

CVE: CVE-2017-16995, CVE-2017-17862, CVE-2017-17863, CVE-2017-17864, CVE-2017-5754

IAVA: 2018-A-0019

USN: 3523-2