CVE-2021-46978
What it is
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: KVM: nVMX: Always make an attempt to map eVMCS after migration When enlightened VMCS is in use and nested state is migrated with vmx_get_nested_state()/vmx_set_nested_state() KVM can't map evmcs page right away: evmcs gpa is not 'struct kvm_vmx_nested_state_hdr' and we can't read it from VP assist page because userspace may decide to restore HV_X64_MSR_VP_ASSIST_PAGE after restoring nested state (and QEMU, for example, does exactly that). To make sure eVMCS is mapped /vmx_set_nested_state() raises KVM_REQ_GET_NESTED_STATE_PAGES request. Commit f2c7ef3ba955 ("KVM: nSVM: cancel KVM_REQ_GET_NESTED_STATE_PAGES on nested vmexit") added KVM_REQ_GET_NESTED_STATE_PAGES clearing to nested_vmx_vmexit() to make sure MSR permission bitmap is not switched when an immediate exit from L2 to L1 happens right after migration (caused by a pending event, for example). Unfortunately, in the exact same situation we still need to have eVMCS mapped so nested_sync_vmcs12_to_shadow() reflects changes in VMCS12 to eVMCS. As a band-aid, restore nested_get_evmcs_page() when clearing KVM_REQ_GET_NESTED_STATE_PAGES in nested_vmx_vmexit(). The 'fix' is far from being ideal as we can't easily propagate possible failures and even if we could, this is most likely already too late to do so. The whole 'KVM_REQ_GET_NESTED_STATE_PAGES' idea for mapping eVMCS after migration seems to be fragile as we diverge too much from the 'native' path when vmptr loading happens on vmx_set_nested_state().
At a glance
- Exploitability
- Can be exploited locally on the machine with a low-privilege account. High risk of data exposure, data tampering, service disruption.
- Exploit odds
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).
- Fix
- A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.
Timeline
- PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
- Last updatedMost recent change to the record
Why it ranks here
- Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
- Exploit odds: 0.2% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
- Severity: 7.8 HIGH (CVSS).
- Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.
Details
- Published
- Last modified
- Exploit probability
- 0.2% · EPSS, next 30 days
- Record status
- Analyzed
Affected
- Linux Kernel < 5.10.38
- Linux Kernel < 5.11.22
- Linux Kernel < 5.12.5
- Linux Kernel 5.13
Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 7.8
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Is it in your code?
Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.
Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2021-46978.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2021-46978. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.
Fix and advisories
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/200a45649ab7361bc80c70aebf7165b64f9a6c9f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/bd0e8455b85b651a4c77de9616e307129b15aaa7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c8bf64e3fb77cc19bad146fbe26651985b117194
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f5c7e8425f18fdb9bdb7d13340651d7876890329
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/200a45649ab7361bc80c70aebf7165b64f9a6c9f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/bd0e8455b85b651a4c77de9616e307129b15aaa7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c8bf64e3fb77cc19bad146fbe26651985b117194
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f5c7e8425f18fdb9bdb7d13340651d7876890329
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/200a45649ab7361bc80c70aebf7165b64f9a6c9f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/bd0e8455b85b651a4c77de9616e307129b15aaa7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c8bf64e3fb77cc19bad146fbe26651985b117194
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f5c7e8425f18fdb9bdb7d13340651d7876890329
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/200a45649ab7361bc80c70aebf7165b64f9a6c9f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/bd0e8455b85b651a4c77de9616e307129b15aaa7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c8bf64e3fb77cc19bad146fbe26651985b117194
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f5c7e8425f18fdb9bdb7d13340651d7876890329