CVE-2024-58083·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: KVM: Explicitly verify target vCPU is online in kvm_get_vcpu() Explicitly verify the target vCPU is fully online _prior_ to clamping the index in kvm_get_vcpu(). If the index is "bad", the nospec clamping will generate '0', i.e. KVM will return vCPU0 instead of NULL. In practice, the bug is unlikely to cause problems, as it will only come into play if userspace or the guest is buggy or misbehaving, e.g. KVM may send interrupts to vCPU0 instead of dropping them on the floor. However, returning vCPU0 when it shouldn't exist per online_vcpus is problematic now that KVM uses an xarray for the vCPUs array, as KVM needs to insert into the xarray before publishing the vCPU to userspace (see commit c5b077549136 ("KVM: Convert the kvm->vcpus array to a xarray")), i.e. before vCPU creation is guaranteed to succeed. As a result, incorrectly providing access to vCPU0 will trigger a use-after-free if vCPU0 is dereferenced and kvm_vm_ioctl_create_vcpu() bails out of vCPU creation due to an error and frees vCPU0. Commit afb2acb2e3a3 ("KVM: Fix vcpu_array[0] races") papered over that issue, but in doing so introduced an unsolvable teardown conundrum. Preventing accesses to vCPU0 before it's fully online will allow reverting commit afb2acb2e3a3, without re-introducing the vcpu_array[0] UAF race.
- Severity
- high
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 6.13.3
- Published
- 2025-03-06
Affected versions
From: 6.13
Until: 6.13.3
Fixed in: 6.13.3
How to fix this CVE
Update your Linux kernel to version 6.13.3 or later to resolve this KVM vCPU online verification issue. The vulnerability allows incorrect access to offline vCPUs in certain edge cases, which could lead to use-after-free conditions during vCPU creation failures. Apply the kernel update as soon as possible and reboot your system to complete the patch deployment.
sudo dnf update kernel kernel-develDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Step 1: Check your kernel version with 'uname -r' and confirm if it falls within 6.13.0-6.13.2 range
- Step 2: Verify KVM is enabled on your system with 'grep -E 'kvm_intel|kvm_amd' /proc/modules' to determine if this vulnerability could be triggered
- Step 3: Search system logs for signs of unexpected vCPU access or VM crashes with 'journalctl -xe | grep -i "vcpu\|kvm\|use-after-free"'
- Step 4: After patching, confirm the new kernel is running with 'uname -r' and verify it shows version 6.13.3 or later
FAQ
What is CVE-2024-58083?
This vulnerability exists in KVM's vCPU management, where the kernel fails to properly verify that a target vCPU is fully online before accessing it. An improperly online vCPU could be incorrectly returned instead of NULL, potentially causing use-after-free scenarios during vCPU creation failures.
Is CVE-2024-58083 being actively exploited?
No, CVE-2024-58083 is not listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog and no public exploits are available. Exploitation would require specific error conditions during vCPU creation, making real-world attacks unlikely.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2024-58083?
Linux kernel versions 6.13.0 through 6.13.2 are vulnerable. The fix is included in kernel 6.13.3 and all subsequent versions.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2024-58083?
Run 'uname -r' to display your kernel version. If the output shows 6.13.0, 6.13.1, or 6.13.2, your system is vulnerable and requires immediate patching.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2024-58083?
Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If the Linux kernel is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2024-58083 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/09d50ccf0b2d739db4a485b08afe7520a4402a63
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/125da53b3c0c9d7f58353aea0076e9efd6498ba7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1e7381f3617d14b3c11da80ff5f8a93ab14cfc46
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5cce2ed69b00e022b5cdf0c49c82986abd2941a8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7c4899239d0f70f88ac42665b3da51678d122480
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