CVE-2022-2196: Speculative execution attacks in KVM VMX

Published Sep 28, 2022
·
Updated

A flaw was found in the KVM's Intel nested virtualization feature (nVMX). Since L1 and L2 shared branch prediction modes (guest-user and guest-kernel), KVM did not protect indirect branches in L1 from steering by a malicious agent in L2. This could allow a malicious nested guest to carry out Spectre v2 attacks against L1 due to a missing IBPB at VM-exit time.

Other sources

A regression exists in the Linux Kernel within KVM: nVMX that allowed for speculative execution attacks. L2 can carry out Spectre v2 attacks on L1 due to L1 thinking it doesn't need retpolines or IBPB after running L2 due to KVM (L0) advertising eIBRS support to L1. An attacker at L2 with code execution can execute code on an indirect branch on the host machine. We recommend upgrading to Kernel 6.2 or applying the relevant stable backports (v5.4.233, v5.10.170, v5.15.96, v6.1.14).

— Ubuntu

A regression exists in the Linux Kernel within KVM: nVMX that allowed for speculative execution attacks. L2 can carry out Spectre v2 attacks on L1 due to L1 thinking it doesn't need retpolines or IBPB after running L2 due to KVM (L0) advertising eIBRS support to L1. An attacker at L2 with code execution can execute code on an indirect branch on the host machine. We recommend upgrading to Kernel 6.2 or past commit 2e7eab81425a

Since L1 and L2 shared branch prediction modes (guest-user and guest-kernel), KVM did not protect indirect branches in L1 from steering by a malicious agent in L2. This could allow a malicious L2 to carry out Spectre v2 attacks against L1 due to missing IBPB at VM-exit time.

Upstream patch & commit: https://lore.kernel.org/all/20221019213620.1953281-3-jmattson@google.com/ https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/2e7eab81425ad6c875f2ed47c0ce01e78afc38a5

— Red Hat

Affected Software

117 affected componentsFixes available
redhat/kernel-rt<0:4.18.0-477.10.1.rt7.274.el8_8
0:4.18.0-477.10.1.rt7.274.el8_8
redhat/kernel<0:4.18.0-477.10.1.el8_8
0:4.18.0-477.10.1.el8_8
redhat/kernel<0:5.14.0-284.11.1.el9_2
0:5.14.0-284.11.1.el9_2
redhat/kernel-rt<0:5.14.0-284.11.1.rt14.296.el9_2
0:5.14.0-284.11.1.rt14.296.el9_2
Linux Linux kernel>=5.4.47<5.4.233
Linux Linux kernel>=5.6.19<5.7
Linux Linux kernel>=5.7.3<5.10.170
Linux Linux kernel>=5.11<5.15.96
Linux Linux kernel>=5.16<6.1.14
Debian Debian Linux=10.0
redhat/kernel<6.2
6.2
debian/linux
6.1.176-16.1.190-16.12.107-16.12.115-27.2.12-17.2.15-1
debian/linux<6.1.15-1
6.1.15-1
debian/linux<6.1.15-1
6.1.15-1
debian/linux<6.1.15-1
6.1.15-1
ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.4<5.4.0-1099.107~18.04.1
5.4.0-1099.107~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.4<5.4.0-1105.111~18.04.1
5.4.0-1105.111~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.4<5.4.0-1102.111~18.04.2
5.4.0-1102.111~18.04.2
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.4<5.4.0-146.163~18.04.1
5.4.0-146.163~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.4<5.4.0-1046.51~18.04.1
5.4.0-1046.51~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.4<5.4.0-1098.107~18.04.1
5.4.0-1098.107~18.04.1
ubuntu/linux-raspi-5.4<5.4.0-1082.93~18.04.1
5.4.0-1082.93~18.04.1
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-gke-4.15*
ubuntu/linux-gke-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-hwe*
ubuntu/linux-oem*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.0*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.3*
ubuntu/linux<5.4.0-146.163
5.4.0-146.163
ubuntu/linux-aws<5.4.0-1099.107
5.4.0-1099.107
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.15<5.15.0-1033.37~20.04.1
5.15.0-1033.37~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure<5.4.0-1105.111
5.4.0-1105.111
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.15<5.15.0-1035.42~20.04.1
5.15.0-1035.42~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-bluefield<5.4.0-1060.66
5.4.0-1060.66
ubuntu/linux-gcp<5.4.0-1102.111
5.4.0-1102.111
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.15<5.15.0-1031.38~20.04.1
5.15.0-1031.38~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-gke<5.4.0-1096.103
5.4.0-1096.103
ubuntu/linux-gke-5.15<5.15.0-1029.34~20.04.1
5.15.0-1029.34~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-gkeop<5.4.0-1066.70
5.4.0-1066.70
ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.15<5.15.0-1017.22~20.04.1
5.15.0-1017.22~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.15<5.15.0-69.76~20.04.1
5.15.0-69.76~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-ibm<5.4.0-1046.51
5.4.0-1046.51
ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg-5.15<5.15.0-1027.32~20.04.1
5.15.0-1027.32~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-iot<5.4.0-1013.15
5.4.0-1013.15
ubuntu/linux-kvm<5.4.0-1088.94
5.4.0-1088.94
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15<5.15.0-69.76~20.04.1
5.15.0-69.76~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15<5.15.0-1014.14~20.04.1
5.15.0-1014.14~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.14<5.14.0-1059.67
5.14.0-1059.67
ubuntu/linux-oracle<5.4.0-1098.107
5.4.0-1098.107
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.15<5.15.0-1032.38~20.04.1
5.15.0-1032.38~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-raspi<5.4.0-1082.93
5.4.0-1082.93
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.15<5.15.0-1030.34~20.04.1
5.15.0-1030.34~20.04.1
ubuntu/linux-xilinx-zynqmp<5.4.0-1023.27
5.4.0-1023.27
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-intel-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.10*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.6*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-raspi2*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<5.4.0-1099.107+fips1
5.4.0-1099.107+fips1
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<5.4.0-1105.111+fips1
5.4.0-1105.111+fips1
ubuntu/linux-fips<5.4.0-1074.83
5.4.0-1074.83
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<5.4.0-1102.111+fips1
5.4.0-1102.111+fips1
ubuntu/linux-fips*
ubuntu/linux<5.15.0-69.76
5.15.0-69.76
ubuntu/linux-aws<5.15.0-1033.37
5.15.0-1033.37
ubuntu/linux-azure<5.15.0-1035.42
5.15.0-1035.42
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.19<5.19.0-1022.23~22.04.1
5.19.0-1022.23~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde<5.15.0-1035.42.1
5.15.0-1035.42.1
ubuntu/linux-gcp<5.15.0-1031.38
5.15.0-1031.38
ubuntu/linux-gke<5.15.0-1030.35
5.15.0-1030.35
ubuntu/linux-gkeop<5.15.0-1017.22
5.15.0-1017.22
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.19<5.19.0-38.39~22.04.1
5.19.0-38.39~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-ibm<5.15.0-1027.30
5.15.0-1027.30
ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg<5.15.0-1027.32
5.15.0-1027.32
ubuntu/linux-kvm<5.15.0-1030.35
5.15.0-1030.35
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency<5.15.0-69.76
5.15.0-69.76
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19<5.19.0-1021.22~22.04.1
5.19.0-1021.22~22.04.1
ubuntu/linux-nvidia<5.15.0-1023.23
5.15.0-1023.23
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.17<5.17.0-1029.30
5.17.0-1029.30
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.0<6.0.0-1013.13
6.0.0-1013.13
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.1<6.1.0-1008.8
6.1.0-1008.8
ubuntu/linux-oracle<5.15.0-1032.38
5.15.0-1032.38
ubuntu/linux-raspi<5.15.0-1026.28
5.15.0-1026.28
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-bluefield<5.15.0-1015.17
5.15.0-1015.17
ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime<5.15.0-1023.28
5.15.0-1023.28
ubuntu/linux-realtime<5.15.0-1034.37
5.15.0-1034.37
ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-vmware*

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 0:4.18.0-477.10.1.rt7.274.el8_8
  2. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 0:4.18.0-477.10.1.el8_8
  3. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 0:5.14.0-284.11.1.el9_2
  4. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 0:5.14.0-284.11.1.rt14.296.el9_2
  5. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.2
  6. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1099.107~18.04.1
  7. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1105.111~18.04.1
  8. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1102.111~18.04.2
  9. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-146.163~18.04.1
  10. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1046.51~18.04.1
  11. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1098.107~18.04.1
  12. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1082.93~18.04.1
  13. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-146.163
  14. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1099.107
  15. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1033.37~20.04.1
  16. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1105.111
  17. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1035.42~20.04.1
  18. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1060.66
  19. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1102.111
  20. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1031.38~20.04.1
  21. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1096.103
  22. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1029.34~20.04.1
  23. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1066.70
  24. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1017.22~20.04.1
  25. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.0-69.76~20.04.1
  26. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1046.51
  27. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1027.32~20.04.1
  28. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1013.15
  29. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1088.94
  30. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.0-69.76~20.04.1
  31. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1014.14~20.04.1
  32. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oem-5.14 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.14.0-1059.67
  33. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1098.107
  34. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1032.38~20.04.1
  35. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1082.93
  36. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1030.34~20.04.1
  37. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1023.27
  38. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1099.107+fips1
  39. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1105.111+fips1
  40. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1074.83
  41. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.4.0-1102.111+fips1
  42. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-69.76
  43. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1033.37
  44. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1035.42
  45. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-5.19 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.19.0-1022.23~22.04.1
  46. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1035.42.1
  47. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1031.38
  48. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1030.35
  49. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1017.22
  50. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.19 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.19.0-38.39~22.04.1
  51. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1027.30
  52. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1027.32
  53. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1030.35
  54. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-69.76
  55. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.19.0-1021.22~22.04.1
  56. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1023.23
  57. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oem-5.17 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.17.0-1029.30
  58. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oem-6.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.0.0-1013.13
  59. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oem-6.1 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.1.0-1008.8
  60. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1032.38
  61. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1026.28
  62. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1015.17
  63. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1023.28
  64. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 5.15.0-1034.37
  65. 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
  66. Upgrade

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

    Fixed in 6.1.15-1
  67. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.2
  68. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.4.233
  69. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.10.170
  70. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.96
  71. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.1.14
  72. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Patch 2e7eab81425ad6c875f2ed47c0ce01e78afc38a5
  73. Configuration

    Disable nested virtualization by unloading the module with `modprobe -r kvm_intel`, then loading it with `modprobe kvm_intel nested=0`.

    KVM Intel nested virtualization (kvm_intel) nested = 0

Event History

Sep 28, 2022
CVE Published
12:00 AM
Jan 9, 2023
Data Sourced
via Ubuntu·12:00 AM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityAffected Software
CVE Published
via MITRE·10:59 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·10:59 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Data Sourced
via OSV·11:15 AM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Data Sourced
via NVD·11:15 AM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Jan 11, 2023
Data Sourced
via Red Hat·11:09 AM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software

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-2022-2196?

CVE-2022-2196 has been classified as a high severity vulnerability due to its potential exploitation by a nested malicious guest.

2

How do I fix CVE-2022-2196?

To fix CVE-2022-2196, you should update to the latest kernel versions specified: 0:4.18.0-477.10.1.rt7.274.el8_8, 0:4.18.0-477.10.1.el8_8, 0:5.14.0-284.11.1.el9_2, or 6.2.

3

What systems are affected by CVE-2022-2196?

CVE-2022-2196 affects multiple versions of the Linux Kernel and specifically those utilized in Red Hat kernel and Debian Linux packages.

4

What is the exploitability of CVE-2022-2196?

CVE-2022-2196 can be exploited by a nested guest to manipulate branches in a host system, potentially allowing escalation of privileges.

5

Is there a known workaround for CVE-2022-2196?

There are no known workarounds for CVE-2022-2196; updating to a secure version is the only reliable solution.

Company

Resources

Contact

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