Critical Denial of Service Vulnerability in Xen Package
Summary
ALPINE-CVE-2017-12136: Race condition in the grant table code in Xen 4.6.x through 4.9.x allows local guest OS administrators to cause a denial of service (free list corruption and host crash) or gain privileges on the host via vectors involvi... Affects xen versions < 4.9.0-r1. Fixed in 4.9.0-r1. How to fix ↓
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Background
Xen is an open-source hypervisor that enables multiple operating systems to run concurrently on a single physical machine. It is widely used for virtualization in cloud computing environments. The Xen package provides essential functionalities for managing virtual machines, including resource allocation and isolation. However, it has been found to be vulnerable to a race condition that can lead to severe security issues.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2017-12136, arises from a race condition in the grant table code of Xen versions 4.6.x through 4.9.x. This flaw allows local guest OS administrators to exploit the free list handling of maptrack, potentially leading to a denial of service (DoS) through free list corruption, which can crash the host system. Additionally, it poses a risk of privilege escalation, allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to the host.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
4.9.0-r1
This is the first release that contains the fix.
sudo apk add --upgrade xenTip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
As a temporary workaround, it is advisable to limit access to the hypervisor and restrict administrative privileges for guest OS administrators until the package can be updated. This can help mitigate the risk of exploitation.
Conclusion
The CVE-2017-12136 vulnerability in the Xen package poses significant risks, including potential denial of service and privilege escalation. Users are strongly advised to update to the patched version to mitigate these risks. Implementing temporary workarounds can provide additional protection until the update is applied.
See every vulnerability recorded for xen →
FAQ
CVE-2017-12136 is a vulnerability in the Xen hypervisor that allows local guest OS administrators to cause a denial of service or gain privileges on the host.
The vulnerability affects Xen versions 4.6.x through 4.9.x.
You can use Vulert's playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without needing to sign up.
The CVSS score for CVE-2017-12136 is 7.8, indicating a high severity level.
If an immediate update is not possible, restrict access to the hypervisor and limit administrative privileges for guest OS administrators as a temporary measure.
References
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for xen.
