The restore_fpu_checking function in arch/x86/include/asm/fpu-internal.h in the Linux…
Priority LOW 23CWE-264Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- — Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
- Attack complexity
- Medium
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · Complete
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-264.
Summary
The restore_fpu_checking function in arch/x86/include/asm/fpu-internal.h in the Linux kernel before 3.12.8 on the AMD K7 and K8 platforms does not clear pending exceptions before proceeding to an EMMS instruction, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (task kill) or possibly gain privileges via a crafted application.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.00653 51st percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed Red Hat: 1 advisory
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 8
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 3.12.7 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.12 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.12.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.12.1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.12.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.12.2 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.12.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.12.3 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.12.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.12.4 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.12.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.12.5 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.12.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.12.6 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 3.12.7 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.12 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.12.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.12.1 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.12.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.12.2 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.12.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.12.3 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.12.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.12.4 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.12.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.12.5 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.12.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.12.6 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
Red Hat 1 advisory
- RHSA-2014:0439 Released 2014-04-28 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel-rt security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat MRG Realtime for RHEL 6 Server v.2 kernel-rt-3.10.33-rt32.33.el6rt, kernel-rt-debug-3.10.33-rt32.33.el6rt, kernel-rt-debug-devel-3.10.33-rt32.33.el6rt +7
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat MRG Realtime for RHEL 6 Server v.2 | Fixed | RHSA-2014:0439 |
Not affected: 3 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2014-1438
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-xgvj-fh76-mj6g
- 2026-10-14 EPSS moved to the 50th–90th percentile
References
Advisory 12
Other 7
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1052914
- [oss-security] 20140114 Re: Linux kernel: missing CPU-state sanitation during task-switch causes DOS / privilege escalation
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=26bef1318adc1b3a530ecc807ef99346db2aa8b0
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/ChangeLog-3.12.8
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/26bef1318adc1b3a530ecc807ef99346db2aa8b0
- [linux-kernel] 20140110 Re: Sanitize CPU-state when switching tasks (was sanitize CPU-state when switching from virtual-8086 mode to other task)
- http://www.halfdog.net/Security/2013/Vm86SyscallTaskSwitchKernelPanic/
More Linux Kernel vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-26358 tls: fix handling of zero-length records on the rx_list KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-38352 netfilter: bridge: make ebt_snat ARP rewrite writable KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2013-05264 The (1) get_user and (2) put_user API functions in the Linux kernel before 3.5.5 on the… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2022-00125 Integer overflow in kernel KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2013-01864 The perf_swevent_init function in kernel/events/core.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2021-05514 Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACE KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.3
Sources
- CVE-2014-1438 · CVE Program
- CVE-2014-1438 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-xgvj-fh76-mj6g · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2014-1438 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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