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Ubuntu 16.04 ESM / 18.04 LTS / 20.04 LTS : Intel Microcode vulnerabilities (USN-4985-1)

high Nessus Plugin ID 150394

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Synopsis

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

Description

The remote Ubuntu 16.04 ESM / 18.04 LTS / 20.04 LTS host has a package installed that is affected by multiple vulnerabilities as referenced in the USN-4985-1 advisory.

 It was discovered that some Intel processors may not properly invalidate cache entries used by Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d). This may allow a local user to perform a privilege escalation attack. (CVE-2020-24489)

 Joseph Nuzman discovered that some Intel processors may not properly apply EIBRS mitigations (originally developed for CVE-2017-5715) and hence may allow unauthorized memory reads via sidechannel attacks. A local attacker could use this to expose sensitive information, including kernel memory. (CVE-2020-24511)

 Travis Downs discovered that some Intel processors did not properly flush cache-lines for trivial-data values. This may allow an unauthorized user to infer the presence of these trivial-data-cache-lines via timing sidechannel attacks. A local attacker could use this to expose sensitive information.
 (CVE-2020-24512)

 It was discovered that certain Intel Atom processors could expose memory contents stored in microarchitectural buffers. A local attacker could use this to expose sensitive information.
 (CVE-2020-24513)

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 intel-microcode package.

See Also

https://ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-4985-1

Plugin Details

Severity: High

ID: 150394

File Name: ubuntu_USN-4985-1.nasl

Version: 1.8

Type: local

Agent: unix

Published: 6/9/2021

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: Medium

Score: 6.5

CVSS v2

Risk Factor: Medium

Base Score: 4.6

Temporal Score: 3.4

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

CVSS Score Source: CVE-2020-24489

CVSS v3

Risk Factor: High

Base Score: 8.8

Temporal Score: 7.7

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

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

Vulnerability Information

CPE: cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:-:lts, cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:20.04:-:lts, cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:-:esm, p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:intel-microcode

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

Exploit Ease: No known exploits are available

Patch Publication Date: 6/9/2021

Vulnerability Publication Date: 6/9/2021

Reference Information

CVE: CVE-2020-24489, CVE-2020-24511, CVE-2020-24512, CVE-2020-24513

USN: 4985-1