Denial-of-Service Vulnerability in Xen Package: CVE-2018-15469
Summary
ALPINE-CVE-2018-15469: An issue was discovered in Xen through 4.11.x. Affects xen versions < 4.11.1-r0. Fixed in 4.11.1-r0. How to fix ↓
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Background
Xen is an open-source hypervisor that allows 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 identified to have a vulnerability that affects its stability and security, particularly in ARM architectures.
Vulnerability Detail
An issue was discovered in Xen through version 4.11.x, where the ARM architecture did not properly implement grant table version 2 in both the hypervisor and Linux. This flaw allows an unprivileged ARM guest to request v2 grant tables, which are not correctly set up, leading to subsequent grant-related hypercalls triggering BUG() checks. This can result in a denial-of-service condition, causing the hypervisor to crash and disrupt all virtual machines running on it.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
4.11.1-r0
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 restrict access to the hypervisor for unprivileged guests until the package can be updated. This can be done by configuring the hypervisor settings to limit guest permissions.
Conclusion
CVE-2018-15469 presents a significant risk to systems utilizing the Xen hypervisor on ARM architectures, as it can lead to denial-of-service attacks. It is crucial to update to the patched version of the Xen package to mitigate this vulnerability effectively. Additionally, utilizing tools like Vulert can help monitor and alert for such vulnerabilities in real-time.
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FAQ
CVE-2018-15469 is a vulnerability in the Xen hypervisor that can lead to a denial-of-service condition due to improper handling of grant table requests in ARM architectures.
If you are running Xen on ARM architecture, an unprivileged guest can exploit this vulnerability to crash the hypervisor, affecting all virtual machines hosted on it.
If immediate updates are not possible, consider restricting access to the hypervisor for unprivileged guests as a temporary measure.
You can use Vulert's playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability without requiring any signup.
The CVSS score for CVE-2018-15469 is 6.5, indicating a medium severity level.
References
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