CVE-2020-25285: Race Condition

Published Sep 13, 2020
·
Updated

A flaw was found in the Linux kernels sysctl handling code for hugepages management. When multiple root level processes would write to modify the /proc/sys/vm/nrhugepages file it could create a race on internal variables leading to a system crash or memory corruption.

Other sources

A race condition between hugetlb sysctl handlers in mm/hugetlb.c in the Linux kernel before 5.8.8 could be used by local attackers to corrupt memory, cause a NULL pointer dereference, or possibly have unspecified other impact, aka CID-17743798d812.

— Ubuntu

A race condition between hugetlb sysctl handlers in mm/hugetlb.c in the Linux kernel could be used by local attackers to corrupt memory, cause a NULL pointer dereference, or possibly have unspecified other impact

References: https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=17743798d81238ab13050e8e2833699b54e15467 https://cdn.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v5.x/ChangeLog-5.8.8

— Red Hat

In hugetlbsysctlhandlercommon and related functions of hugetlb.c, there is a possible out of bounds write due to a race condition. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.

— OSV

Affected Software

84 affected componentsFixes available
redhat/kernel-rt<0:4.18.0-305.rt7.72.el8
0:4.18.0-305.rt7.72.el8
redhat/kernel<0:4.18.0-305.el8
0:4.18.0-305.el8
Linux Linux kernel<5.8.8
Debian Debian Linux=9.0
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=14.04
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=16.04
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=18.04
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=20.04
debian/linux
6.1.176-16.1.190-16.12.107-16.12.113-17.2.12-17.2.13-1
android/:linux_kernel:>=:0<:2021-10-05
:2021-10-05
ubuntu/linux-aws<4.4.0-1081.85
4.4.0-1081.85
ubuntu/linux-azure<4.15.0-1100.111~14.04.1
4.15.0-1100.111~14.04.1
ubuntu/linux-lts-xenial<4.4.0-193.224~14.04.1
4.4.0-193.224~14.04.1
ubuntu/linux*
ubuntu/linux<4.4.0-193.224
4.4.0-193.224
ubuntu/linux-aws<4.4.0-1117.131
4.4.0-1117.131
ubuntu/linux-aws-hwe<4.15.0-1088.93~16.04.1
4.15.0-1088.93~16.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure<4.15.0-1100.111~16.04.1
4.15.0-1100.111~16.04.1
ubuntu/linux-gcp<4.15.0-1088.101~16.04.1
4.15.0-1088.101~16.04.1
ubuntu/linux-hwe<4.15.0-126.129~16.04.1
4.15.0-126.129~16.04.1
ubuntu/linux-kvm<4.4.0-1082.91
4.4.0-1082.91
ubuntu/linux-oracle<4.15.0-1059.65~16.04.1
4.15.0-1059.65~16.04.1
ubuntu/linux-raspi2<4.4.0-1141.151
4.4.0-1141.151
ubuntu/linux-snapdragon<4.4.0-1145.155
4.4.0-1145.155
ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*
ubuntu/linux-fips<4.4.0-1048.53
4.4.0-1048.53
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux<4.15.0-126.129
4.15.0-126.129
ubuntu/linux-aws<4.15.0-1088.93
4.15.0-1088.93
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.4<5.4.0-1028.29~18.04.1
5.4.0-1028.29~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure-4.15<4.15.0-1100.111
4.15.0-1100.111
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.4<5.4.0-1031.32~18.04.1
5.4.0-1031.32~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-dell300x<4.15.0-1007.11
4.15.0-1007.11
ubuntu/linux-gcp-4.15<4.15.0-1088.101
4.15.0-1088.101
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.4<5.4.0-1028.29~18.04.1
5.4.0-1028.29~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-gke-4.15<4.15.0-1074.79
4.15.0-1074.79
ubuntu/linux-gke-5.4<5.4.0-1027.28~18.04.1
5.4.0-1027.28~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.4<5.4.0-1003.3
5.4.0-1003.3
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.4<5.4.0-51.56~18.04.1
5.4.0-51.56~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-kvm<4.15.0-1079.81
4.15.0-1079.81
ubuntu/linux-oem<4.15.0-1103.114
4.15.0-1103.114
ubuntu/linux-oracle<4.15.0-1059.65
4.15.0-1059.65
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.4<5.4.0-1028.29~18.04.1
5.4.0-1028.29~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-raspi-5.4<5.4.0-1021.24~18.04.1
5.4.0-1021.24~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-raspi2<4.15.0-1074.79
4.15.0-1074.79
ubuntu/linux-snapdragon<4.15.0-1091.100
4.15.0-1091.100
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.0*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-azure*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-azure-edge*
ubuntu/linux-gcp*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-edge*
ubuntu/linux-hwe*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.0*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<4.15.0-2031.32
4.15.0-2031.32
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<4.15.0-2013.15
4.15.0-2013.15
ubuntu/linux-fips<4.15.0-1046.53
4.15.0-1046.53
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*
ubuntu/linux<5.4.0-51.56
5.4.0-51.56
ubuntu/linux-aws<5.4.0-1028.29
5.4.0-1028.29
ubuntu/linux-azure<5.4.0-1031.32
5.4.0-1031.32
ubuntu/linux-gcp<5.4.0-1028.29
5.4.0-1028.29
ubuntu/linux-kvm<5.4.0-1026.27
5.4.0-1026.27
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.6<5.6.0-1053.57
5.6.0-1053.57
ubuntu/linux-oracle<5.4.0-1028.29
5.4.0-1028.29
ubuntu/linux-raspi<5.4.0-1021.24
5.4.0-1021.24
ubuntu/linux-riscv<5.4.0-36.41
5.4.0-36.41
ubuntu/linux-raspi2*
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<5.4.0-1069.73+fips2
5.4.0-1069.73+fips2
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<5.4.0-1073.76+fips1
5.4.0-1073.76+fips1
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<5.4.0-1067.71~20.04.1
5.4.0-1067.71~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*
ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 0:4.18.0-305.rt7.72.el8
  2. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 0:4.18.0-305.el8
  3. 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 6.12.113-1Fixed in 7.2.12-1Fixed in 7.2.13-1
  4. Upgrade

    Upgrade android/:linux_kernel: to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in :2021-10-05
  5. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 4.4.0-1081.85
  6. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1100.111~14.04.1
  7. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 4.4.0-193.224~14.04.1
  8. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 4.4.0-193.224
  9. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 4.4.0-1117.131
  10. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1088.93~16.04.1
  11. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1100.111~16.04.1
  12. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1088.101~16.04.1
  13. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 4.15.0-126.129~16.04.1
  14. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 4.4.0-1082.91
  15. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1059.65~16.04.1
  16. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 4.4.0-1141.151
  17. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 4.4.0-1145.155
  18. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 4.4.0-1048.53
  19. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 4.15.0-126.129
  20. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1088.93
  21. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-5.4 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1028.29~18.04.1
  22. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1100.111
  23. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-5.4 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1031.32~18.04.1
  24. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-dell300x to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1007.11
  25. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1088.101
  26. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.4 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1028.29~18.04.1
  27. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1074.79
  28. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke-5.4 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1027.28~18.04.1
  29. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.4 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1003.3
  30. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.4 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-51.56~18.04.1
  31. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1079.81
  32. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1103.114
  33. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1059.65
  34. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.4 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1028.29~18.04.1
  35. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi-5.4 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1021.24~18.04.1
  36. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1074.79
  37. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1091.100
  38. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 4.15.0-2031.32
  39. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 4.15.0-2013.15
  40. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 4.15.0-1046.53
  41. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-51.56
  42. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1028.29
  43. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1031.32
  44. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1028.29
  45. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1026.27
  46. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oem-5.6 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.6.0-1053.57
  47. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1028.29
  48. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1021.24
  49. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-36.41
  50. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1069.73+fips2
  51. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1073.76+fips1
  52. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1067.71~20.04.1
  53. Upgrade

    Upgrade Linux kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.8.8

Event History

Sep 13, 2020
CVE Published
12:00 AM
Data Sourced
via Ubuntu·12:00 AM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityAffected Software
CVE Published
via MITRE·05:28 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·05:28 PM
Description
Data Sourced
via OSV·06:15 PM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Data Sourced
via NVD·06:15 PM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Sep 25, 2020
Data Sourced
via Red Hat·04:39 AM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Oct 1, 2021
Advisory Published
via OSV·12:00 AM

Parent advisories

This vulnerability appears in the following advisories.

Peer vulnerabilities

Found alongside the following vulnerabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2020-25285?

CVE-2020-25285 is rated as high severity due to the potential for a system crash or memory corruption.

2

How do I fix CVE-2020-25285?

To mitigate CVE-2020-25285, upgrade to the latest patched kernel versions as recommended by your distribution.

3

Which versions of the Linux kernel are affected by CVE-2020-25285?

CVE-2020-25285 affects Linux kernel versions prior to 5.8.8.

4

Can CVE-2020-25285 be exploited remotely?

CVE-2020-25285 requires local access to the system to exploit, making it a local vulnerability.

5

What specific packages are impacted by CVE-2020-25285?

Packages affected by CVE-2020-25285 include various versions of the kernel, kernel-rt, and Linux distributions like Debian and Ubuntu.

Company

Resources

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