Ubuntu 16.04 LTS : Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities (USN-3653-2)

high Nessus Plugin ID 110047

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-3653-2 advisory.

USN-3653-1 fixed vulnerabilities and added mitigations 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 and Ken Johnson discovered that microprocessors utilizing speculative execution of a memory read may allow unauthorized memory reads via a sidechannel attack. This flaw is known as Spectre Variant 4. A local attacker could use this to expose sensitive information, including kernel memory. (CVE-2018-3639)

It was discovered that the netlink subsystem in the Linux kernel did not properly restrict observations of netlink messages to the appropriate net namespace. A local attacker could use this to expose sensitive information (kernel netlink traffic). (CVE-2017-17449)

Tuba Yavuz discovered that a double-free error existed in the USBTV007 driver of the Linux kernel. A local attacker could use this to cause a denial of service (system crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code.
(CVE-2017-17975)

It was discovered that a race condition existed in the Device Mapper component of the Linux kernel. A local attacker could use this to cause a denial of service (system crash). (CVE-2017-18203)

It was discovered that an infinite loop could occur in the madvise(2) implementation in the Linux kernel in certain circumstances. A local attacker could use this to cause a denial of service (system hang).
(CVE-2017-18208)

Silvio Cesare discovered a buffer overwrite existed in the NCPFS implementation in the Linux kernel. A remote attacker controlling a malicious NCPFS server could use this to cause a denial of service (system crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2018-8822)

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-3653-2

Plugin Details

Severity: High

ID: 110047

File Name: ubuntu_USN-3653-2.nasl

Version: 1.16

Type: local

Agent: unix

Published: 5/23/2018

Updated: 8/27/2024

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

Risk Information

VPR

Risk Factor: Medium

Score: 6.7

CVSS v2

Risk Factor: High

Base Score: 7.2

Temporal Score: 5.6

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

CVSS Score Source: CVE-2018-8822

CVSS v3

Risk Factor: High

Base Score: 7.8

Temporal Score: 7

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:P/RL:O/RC:C

Vulnerability Information

CPE: p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-image-4.13.0-43-generic, cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:-:lts, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-image-4.13.0-1018-azure, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-image-4.13.0-43-generic-lpae, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-image-4.13.0-1017-gcp, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-image-4.13.0-1028-oem, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:linux-image-4.13.0-43-lowlatency

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

Exploit Available: true

Exploit Ease: Exploits are available

Patch Publication Date: 5/22/2018

Vulnerability Publication Date: 12/7/2017

Reference Information

CVE: CVE-2017-17449, CVE-2017-17975, CVE-2017-18203, CVE-2017-18208, CVE-2018-3639, CVE-2018-8822

USN: 3653-2