CVE-2018-14634: Linux Kernel Integer Overflow Vulnerability

Published Aug 31, 2018
·
Updated

A flaw was found in the Linux kernels with commit b6a2fea39318 ("mm: variable length argument support", from July 19, 2007) but without commit da029c11e6b1 ("exec:Limit arg stack to at most 75% of STKLIM", from July 7, 2017). An integer overflow in the Linux kernel's createelftables() function. A local attacker can exploit this vulnerability via a SUID-root binary and obtain full root privileges.

Referenced commits: b6a2fea39318 ("mm: variable length argument support", from July 19, 2007) https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/b6a2fea39318e43fee84fa7b0b90d68bed92d2ba

da029c11e6b1 ("exec: Limit arg stack to at most 75% of STKLIM", from July 7, 2017) https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/da029c11e6b12f321f36dac8771e833b65cec962

Additional references: https://www.qualys.com/2018/09/25/cve-2018-14634/mutagen-astronomy-integer-overflow-linux-createelftables-cve-2018-14634.txt

Other sources

An integer overflow flaw was found in the Linux kernel's createelftables() function. An unprivileged local user with access to SUID (or otherwise privileged) binary could use this flaw to escalate their privileges on the system.

Linux Kernel contains an integer overflow vulnerability in the createelftables() function which could allow an unprivileged local user with access to SUID (or otherwise privileged) binary to escalate their privileges on the system.

CISA

Affected Software

113 affected componentsFixes available
redhat/kernel<0:2.6.32-754.6.3.el6
0:2.6.32-754.6.3.el6
redhat/kernel<0:2.6.32-358.94.1.el6
0:2.6.32-358.94.1.el6
redhat/kernel<0:2.6.32-431.93.2.el6
0:2.6.32-431.93.2.el6
redhat/kernel<0:2.6.32-504.76.2.el6
0:2.6.32-504.76.2.el6
redhat/kernel<0:2.6.32-573.65.2.el6
0:2.6.32-573.65.2.el6
redhat/kernel-rt<0:3.10.0-862.14.4.rt56.821.el7
0:3.10.0-862.14.4.rt56.821.el7
redhat/kernel<0:3.10.0-862.14.4.el7
0:3.10.0-862.14.4.el7
redhat/kernel<0:3.10.0-327.76.1.el7
0:3.10.0-327.76.1.el7
redhat/kernel<0:3.10.0-514.61.1.el7
0:3.10.0-514.61.1.el7
redhat/kernel<0:3.10.0-693.43.1.el7
0:3.10.0-693.43.1.el7
redhat/kernel-rt<1:3.10.0-693.43.1.rt56.630.el6
1:3.10.0-693.43.1.rt56.630.el6
Linux Linux kernel>=2.6.0<=2.6.39.4
Linux Linux kernel>=3.10.0<=3.10.102
Linux Linux kernel>=4.14.0<=4.14.54
redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop=6.0
redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop=7.0
redhat Enterprise Linux Server=6.0
redhat Enterprise Linux Server=7.0
redhat Enterprise Linux Server Aus=6.5
redhat Enterprise Linux Server Aus=6.6
redhat Enterprise Linux Server Aus=7.6
redhat Enterprise Linux Server Eus=6.7
redhat Enterprise Linux Server Eus=7.5
redhat Enterprise Linux Server Eus=7.6
redhat Enterprise Linux Server Tus=6.6
redhat Enterprise Linux Server Tus=7.6
redhat Enterprise Linux Workstation=6.0
redhat Enterprise Linux Workstation=7.0
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=12.04
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=14.04
NetApp Active Iq Performance Analytics Services
Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS>=7.1.0<7.1.23
Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS>=8.0.0<8.0.16
Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS>=8.1.0<8.1.7
F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager>=11.2.1<11.6.4
F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager>=12.1.0<12.1.5
F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager>=13.0.0<13.1.1.5
F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager>=14.0.0<14.0.1.1
F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager>=14.1.0<14.1.0.6
F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager>=11.2.1<11.6.4
F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager>=12.1.0<12.1.5
F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager>=13.0.0<13.1.1.5
F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager>=14.0.0<14.0.1.1
F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager>=14.1.0<14.1.0.6
F5 BIG-IP Analytics>=11.2.1<11.6.4
F5 BIG-IP Analytics>=12.1.0<12.1.5
F5 BIG-IP Analytics>=13.0.0<13.1.1.5
F5 BIG-IP Analytics>=14.0.0<14.0.1.1
F5 BIG-IP Analytics>=14.1.0<14.1.0.6
F5 Big-ip Application Acceleration Manager>=11.2.1<11.6.4
F5 Big-ip Application Acceleration Manager>=12.1.0<12.1.5
F5 Big-ip Application Acceleration Manager>=13.0.0<13.1.1.5
F5 Big-ip Application Acceleration Manager>=14.0.0<14.0.1.1
F5 Big-ip Application Acceleration Manager>=14.1.0<14.1.0.6
F5 BIG-IP Application Security Manager>=11.2.1<11.6.4
F5 BIG-IP Application Security Manager>=12.1.0<12.1.5
F5 BIG-IP Application Security Manager>=13.0.0<13.1.1.5
F5 BIG-IP Application Security Manager>=14.0.0<14.0.1.1
F5 BIG-IP Application Security Manager>=14.1.0<14.1.0.6
F5 Big-ip Domain Name System>=11.2.1<11.6.4
F5 Big-ip Domain Name System>=12.1.0<12.1.5
F5 Big-ip Domain Name System>=13.0.0<13.1.1.5
F5 Big-ip Domain Name System>=14.0.0<14.0.1.1
F5 Big-ip Domain Name System>=14.1.0<14.1.0.6
F5 BIG-IP Edge Gateway>=11.2.1<11.6.4
F5 BIG-IP Edge Gateway>=12.1.0<12.1.5
F5 BIG-IP Edge Gateway>=13.0.0<13.1.1.5
F5 BIG-IP Edge Gateway>=14.0.0<14.0.1.1
F5 BIG-IP Edge Gateway>=14.1.0<14.1.0.6
F5 Big-ip Fraud Protection Service>=11.2.1<11.6.4
F5 Big-ip Fraud Protection Service>=12.1.0<12.1.5
F5 Big-ip Fraud Protection Service>=13.0.0<13.1.1.5
F5 Big-ip Fraud Protection Service>=14.0.0<14.0.1.1
F5 Big-ip Fraud Protection Service>=14.1.0<14.1.0.6
F5 Big-ip Global Traffic Manager>=11.2.1<11.6.4
F5 Big-ip Global Traffic Manager>=12.1.0<12.1.5
F5 Big-ip Global Traffic Manager>=13.0.0<13.1.1.5
F5 Big-ip Global Traffic Manager>=14.0.0<14.0.1.1
F5 Big-ip Global Traffic Manager>=14.1.0<14.1.0.6
F5 Big-ip Link Controller>=11.2.1<11.6.4
F5 Big-ip Link Controller>=12.1.0<12.1.5
F5 Big-ip Link Controller>=13.0.0<13.1.1.5
F5 Big-ip Link Controller>=14.0.0<14.0.1.1
F5 Big-ip Link Controller>=14.1.0<14.1.0.6
F5 Big-ip Local Traffic Manager>=11.2.1<11.6.4
F5 Big-ip Local Traffic Manager>=12.1.0<12.1.5
F5 Big-ip Local Traffic Manager>=13.0.0<13.1.1.5
F5 Big-ip Local Traffic Manager>=14.0.0<14.0.1.1
F5 Big-ip Local Traffic Manager>=14.1.0<14.1.0.6
F5 Big-ip Policy Enforcement Manager>=11.2.1<11.6.4
F5 Big-ip Policy Enforcement Manager>=12.1.0<12.1.5
F5 Big-ip Policy Enforcement Manager>=13.0.0<13.1.1.5
F5 Big-ip Policy Enforcement Manager>=14.0.0<14.0.1.1
F5 Big-ip Policy Enforcement Manager>=14.1.0<14.1.0.6
F5 Big-ip Webaccelerator>=11.2.1<11.6.4
F5 Big-ip Webaccelerator>=12.1.0<12.1.5
F5 Big-ip Webaccelerator>=13.0.0<13.1.1.5
F5 Big-ip Webaccelerator>=14.0.0<14.0.1.1
F5 Big-ip Webaccelerator>=14.1.0<14.1.0.6
F5 BIG-IQ Centralized Management>=5.0.0<=5.4.0
F5 BIG-IQ Centralized Management>=6.0.0<=6.0.1
F5 BIG-IQ Centralized Management>=7.0.0<=7.1.0
F5 BIG-IQ Centralized Management=4.6.0
F5 BIG-IQ Cloud and Orchestration=1.0.0
F5 Enterprise Manager=3.1.1
F5 iWorkflow>=2.2.0<=2.3.0
F5 Traffix Signaling Delivery Controller>=5.0.0<=5.1.0
F5 Traffix Signaling Delivery Controller=4.4.0
Linux Linux kernel>=3.10<=3.10.102
Linux Linux kernel>=4.14<=4.14.54
NetApp Snapprotect
Linux Kernel
debian/linux
5.10.223-15.10.262-16.1.176-16.1.180-16.12.94-16.12.101-17.1.7-17.1.8-1

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 0:2.6.32-754.6.3.el6
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 0:2.6.32-358.94.1.el6
  3. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 0:2.6.32-431.93.2.el6
  4. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 0:2.6.32-504.76.2.el6
  5. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 0:2.6.32-573.65.2.el6
  6. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/kernel-rt to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 0:3.10.0-862.14.4.rt56.821.el7
  7. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 0:3.10.0-862.14.4.el7
  8. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 0:3.10.0-327.76.1.el7
  9. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 0:3.10.0-514.61.1.el7
  10. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 0:3.10.0-693.43.1.el7
  11. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/kernel-rt to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 1:3.10.0-693.43.1.rt56.630.el6
  12. Upgrade

    Upgrade debian/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.10.223-1Fixed in 5.10.262-1Fixed in 6.1.176-1Fixed in 6.1.180-1Fixed in 6.12.94-1Fixed in 6.12.101-1Fixed in 7.1.7-1Fixed in 7.1.8-1
  13. Upgrade

    Upgrade Linux kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Patch b6a2fea39318
  14. Upgrade

    Upgrade Linux kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Patch da029c11e6b1
  15. Configuration

    Enable and install kernel-debuginfo packages (and matching kernel-devel packages) for the kernel being analyzed, as instructed in the Red Hat solution referenced in the material (access.redhat.com/solutions/666123).

    SystemTap (requires kernel debug symbols) kernel-debuginfo packages = install and match kernel-devel packages as per Red Hat access.redhat.com/solutions/666123
  16. Compensating control

    Use the provided SystemTap mitigation for CVE-2018-14634: save the SystemTap script to a file with a .stp extension, then generate/load it by running "stap -g [filename-from-step-1].stp" as root (the material also shows "stap -g -p 4 [filename-from-step-1].stp"). The mitigation adjusts the thread's RLIMIT_STACK (rlim_cur) around calls to the vulnerable create_elf_tables() path, clamping with WRITE_ONCE(rlim[RLIMIT_STACK].rlim_cur, limit), to encompass the newly required _STK_LIM / 4 * 3 maximum.

Event History

Aug 31, 2018
Data Sourced
via Red Hat·08:03 PM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Sep 25, 2018
CVE Published
05:00 PM
CVE Published
via MITRE·09:00 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·09:00 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·09:29 PM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Aug 6, 2025
Data Sourced
via Launchpad·04:18 AM
Description
Jan 26, 2026
Known Exploited
via CISA·12:00 AM
Data Sourced
via CISA·12:00 AM
RemedyDescriptionAffected Software
Jul 6, 2026
Data Sourced
via Ubuntu·11:14 AM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Aug 12, 2026
Data Sourced
via Debian·12:06 PM
DescriptionAffected Software
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