CVE-2019-14821: High severity Linux Linux kernel vulnerability

Published Aug 29, 2019
·
Updated

An out-of-bounds access issue was found in the Linux kernel, all versions through 5.3, in the way Linux kernel's KVM hypervisor implements the Coalesced MMIO write operation. It operates on an MMIO ring buffer 'struct kvmcoalescedmmio' object, wherein write indices 'ring->first' and 'ring->last' value could be supplied by a host user-space process. An unprivileged host user or process with access to '/dev/kvm' device could use this flaw to crash the host kernel, resulting in a denial of service or potentially escalating privileges on the system.

Other sources

An out-of-bounds access issue was found in the way Linux kernel's KVM hypervisor implements Coalesced MMIO write operation. It operates on a MMIO ring buffer 'struct kvmcoalescedmmio' object, wherein write indices 'ring->first' and 'ring->last' value could be supplied by a host user-space process.

An unprivileged host user/process with access to '/dev/kvm' device could use this flaw to crash the host kernel resulting in DoS OR potentially escalate privileges on the system.

Upstream patch: --------------- -> https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/virt/kvm/kvm.git/commit/?id=b60fe990c6b07ef6d4df67bc0530c7c90a62623a

Reference: ---------- -> https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/09/20/1

— Red Hat

An out-of-bounds access issue was found in the way Linux kernel's KVM hypervisor implements the Coalesced MMIO write operation. It operates on an MMIO ring buffer 'struct kvmcoalescedmmio' object, wherein write indices 'ring->first' and 'ring->last' value could be supplied by a host user-space process. An unprivileged host user or process with access to '/dev/kvm' device could use this flaw to crash the host kernel, resulting in a denial of service or potentially escalating privileges on the system.

Affected Software

131 affected componentsFixes available
redhat/kernel<0:2.6.32-754.25.1.el6
0:2.6.32-754.25.1.el6
redhat/kernel-rt<0:3.10.0-1062.7.1.rt56.1030.el7
0:3.10.0-1062.7.1.rt56.1030.el7
redhat/kernel<0:3.10.0-1062.7.1.el7
0:3.10.0-1062.7.1.el7
redhat/kernel-alt<0:4.14.0-115.16.1.el7a
0:4.14.0-115.16.1.el7a
redhat/kernel<0:3.10.0-957.56.1.el7
0:3.10.0-957.56.1.el7
redhat/kernel-rt<0:4.18.0-147.rt24.93.el8
0:4.18.0-147.rt24.93.el8
redhat/kernel<0:4.18.0-147.el8
0:4.18.0-147.el8
redhat/kernel<0:4.18.0-80.15.1.el8_0
0:4.18.0-80.15.1.el8_0
Linux Linux kernel>=2.6.27<=3.15.10
Linux Linux kernel>=3.16<3.16.74
Linux Linux kernel>=4.4<4.4.194
Linux Linux kernel>=4.9<4.9.194
Linux Linux kernel>=4.14<4.14.146
Linux Linux kernel>=4.19<4.19.75
Linux Linux kernel>=5.2<5.2.17
Linux Linux kernel>=5.3<5.3.1
Linux Linux kernel=5.4-rc1
redhat Virtualization Host=4.0
redhat Enterprise Linux=8.0
redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop=6.0
redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop=7.0
redhat Enterprise Linux Eus=7.7
redhat Enterprise Linux For Real Time=7
redhat Enterprise Linux For Real Time=8
redhat Enterprise Linux Server=6.0
redhat Enterprise Linux Server=7.0
redhat Enterprise Linux Server Aus=7.7
redhat Enterprise Linux Server Tus=7.7
redhat Enterprise Linux Workstation=6.0
redhat Enterprise Linux Workstation=7.0
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=14.04
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=16.04
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=18.04
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=19.04
openSUSE Leap=15.0
openSUSE Leap=15.1
Fedoraproject Fedora=29
Fedoraproject Fedora=30
Debian Debian Linux=8.0
Debian Debian Linux=9.0
Debian Debian Linux=10.0
NetApp Aff A700s Firmware
NetApp AFF A700s
NetApp H300s Firmware
NetApp H300s
NetApp H500s Firmware
NetApp H500s
NetApp H700s Firmware
NetApp H700s
NetApp H300e Firmware
NetApp H300e
NetApp H500e Firmware
NetApp H500e
NetApp H700e Firmware
NetApp H700e
NetApp H410s Firmware
NetApp H410s
NetApp H410c Firmware
NetApp H410c
NetApp H610s Firmware
NetApp H610s
NetApp Data Availability Services
NetApp Hci Management Node
NetApp Solidfire
Oracle SD-WAN Edge=7.3
Oracle SD-WAN Edge=8.0
Oracle SD-WAN Edge=8.1
Oracle SD-WAN Edge=8.2
All of the following
NetApp Aff A700s Firmware
NetApp AFF A700s
All of the following
NetApp H300s Firmware
NetApp H300s
All of the following
NetApp H500s Firmware
NetApp H500s
All of the following
NetApp H700s Firmware
NetApp H700s
All of the following
NetApp H300e Firmware
NetApp H300e
All of the following
NetApp H500e Firmware
NetApp H500e
All of the following
NetApp H700e Firmware
NetApp H700e
All of the following
NetApp H410s Firmware
NetApp H410s
All of the following
NetApp H410c Firmware
NetApp H410c
All of the following
NetApp H610s Firmware
NetApp H610s
debian/linux
6.1.176-16.1.190-16.12.107-16.12.115-27.2.12-17.2.15-1
ubuntu/linux-aws<4.4.0-1056.60
4.4.0-1056.60
ubuntu/linux-azure<4.15.0-1061.66~14.04.1
4.15.0-1061.66~14.04.1
ubuntu/linux-lts-xenial<4.4.0-166.195~14.04.1
4.4.0-166.195~14.04.1
ubuntu/linux*
ubuntu/linux<4.4.0-166.195
4.4.0-166.195
ubuntu/linux-aws<4.4.0-1096.107
4.4.0-1096.107
ubuntu/linux-aws-hwe<4.15.0-1052.54~16.04.1
4.15.0-1052.54~16.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure<4.15.0-1061.66
4.15.0-1061.66
ubuntu/linux-gcp<4.15.0-1047.50
4.15.0-1047.50
ubuntu/linux-hwe<4.15.0-66.75~16.04.1
4.15.0-66.75~16.04.1
ubuntu/linux-kvm<4.4.0-1060.67
4.4.0-1060.67
ubuntu/linux-oracle<4.15.0-1027.30~16.04.1
4.15.0-1027.30~16.04.1
ubuntu/linux-raspi2<4.4.0-1124.133
4.4.0-1124.133
ubuntu/linux-snapdragon<4.4.0-1128.136
4.4.0-1128.136
ubuntu/linux-fips<4.4.0-1023.28
4.4.0-1023.28
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux<4.15.0-66.75
4.15.0-66.75
ubuntu/linux-aws<4.15.0-1052.54
4.15.0-1052.54
ubuntu/linux-azure<5.0.0-1023.24~18.04.1
5.0.0-1023.24~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-gcp<5.0.0-1021.21~18.04.1
5.0.0-1021.21~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-gke-4.15<4.15.0-1046.49
4.15.0-1046.49
ubuntu/linux-gke-5.0<5.0.0-1023.23~18.04.2
5.0.0-1023.23~18.04.2
ubuntu/linux-hwe<5.0.0-32.34~18.04.2
5.0.0-32.34~18.04.2
ubuntu/linux-kvm<4.15.0-1048.48
4.15.0-1048.48
ubuntu/linux-oem<4.15.0-1059.68
4.15.0-1059.68
ubuntu/linux-oem-osp1<5.0.0-1025.28
5.0.0-1025.28
ubuntu/linux-oracle<4.15.0-1027.30
4.15.0-1027.30
ubuntu/linux-raspi2<4.15.0-1049.53
4.15.0-1049.53
ubuntu/linux-snapdragon<4.15.0-1066.73
4.15.0-1066.73
ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<4.15.0-2018.18
4.15.0-2018.18
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<4.15.0-2006.7
4.15.0-2006.7
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*
ubuntu/linux-gke*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 0:2.6.32-754.25.1.el6
  2. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 0:3.10.0-1062.7.1.rt56.1030.el7
  3. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 0:3.10.0-1062.7.1.el7
  4. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 0:4.14.0-115.16.1.el7a
  5. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 0:3.10.0-957.56.1.el7
  6. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 0:4.18.0-147.rt24.93.el8
  7. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 0:4.18.0-147.el8
  8. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 0:4.18.0-80.15.1.el8_0
  9. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.1.176-1Fixed in 6.1.190-1Fixed in 6.12.107-1Fixed in 6.12.115-2Fixed in 7.2.12-1Fixed in 7.2.15-1
  10. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.4.0-1056.60
  11. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1061.66~14.04.1
  12. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lts-xenial to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.4.0-166.195~14.04.1
  13. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 4.4.0-166.195
  14. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.4.0-1096.107
  15. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-hwe to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1052.54~16.04.1
  16. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1061.66
  17. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1047.50
  18. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-66.75~16.04.1
  19. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-kvm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.4.0-1060.67
  20. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1027.30~16.04.1
  21. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi2 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.4.0-1124.133
  22. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-snapdragon to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.4.0-1128.136
  23. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.4.0-1023.28
  24. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 4.15.0-66.75
  25. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1052.54
  26. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.0.0-1023.24~18.04.1
  27. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.0.0-1021.21~18.04.1
  28. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke-4.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1046.49
  29. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke-5.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.0.0-1023.23~18.04.2
  30. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.0.0-32.34~18.04.2
  31. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-kvm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1048.48
  32. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oem to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1059.68
  33. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oem-osp1 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.0.0-1025.28
  34. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1027.30
  35. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi2 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1049.53
  36. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-snapdragon to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1066.73
  37. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-2018.18
  38. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-2006.7
  39. Upgrade

    Upgrade Linux kernel KVM to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Patch b60fe990c6b07ef6d4df67bc0530c7c90a62623a
  40. Compensating control

    Restrict access to the /dev/kvm device to trusted users so untrusted users cannot write to it.

Event History

Aug 29, 2019
Data Sourced
via Red Hat·07:03 AM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Sep 17, 2019
CVE Published
05:00 PM
Sep 19, 2019
CVE Published
via MITRE·05:37 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·05:37 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·06:15 PM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Oct 1, 2019
Data Sourced
via Ubuntu·12:00 AM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Data Sourced
via OSV·05:00 PM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software

Peer vulnerabilities

Found alongside the following vulnerabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2019-14821?

CVE-2019-14821 is rated as high severity based on its impact on the security and stability of the Linux kernel.

2

How do I fix CVE-2019-14821?

To fix CVE-2019-14821, you should upgrade to a patched version of the kernel that addresses this vulnerability.

3

Which Linux kernel versions are affected by CVE-2019-14821?

CVE-2019-14821 affects all versions of the Linux kernel up to 5.3.

4

Is CVE-2019-14821 exploitable remotely?

CVE-2019-14821 may be exploited locally, but it is not typically considered a remote attack vulnerability.

5

What components of the Linux kernel are impacted by CVE-2019-14821?

CVE-2019-14821 specifically impacts the KVM hypervisor within the Linux kernel, particularly in its handling of Coalesced MMIO write operations.

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203