Improper privilege management in Linux kernel
Priority LOW 34CWE-250Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Privilege escalation
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-250.
Summary
A flaw was found in the way Linux kernel KVM hypervisor before 4.18 emulated instructions such as sgdt/sidt/fxsave/fxrstor. It did not check current privilege(CPL) level while emulating unprivileged instructions. An unprivileged guest user/process could use this flaw to potentially escalate privileges inside guest.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.0047 40th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed Red Hat: 5 advisories
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | kernel | 4.18 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- kernel VendorLinux Affected 4.18 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 4
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 16.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 18.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 4.18 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 16.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 18.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 4.18 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
Red Hat 5 advisories
- RHSA-2020:0179 Released 2020-01-21 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security and bug fix update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode EUS (v. 7.6) bpftool-3.10.0-957.43.1.el7, kernel-3.10.0-957.43.1.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-957.43.1.el7 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional EUS (v. 7.6) kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-957.43.1.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 7.6) bpftool-3.10.0-957.43.1.el7, kernel-3.10.0-957.43.1.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-957.43.1.el7 +12
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional EUS (v. 7.6) kernel-debug-devel-3.10.0-957.43.1.el7, kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-957.43.1.el7
- Red Hat Virtualization 4.2 Hypervisor for RHEL 7.6 EUS kernel-devel-3.10.0-957.43.1.el7, kernel-headers-3.10.0-957.43.1.el7, perf-3.10.0-957.43.1.el7 +1
- RHSA-2020:0103 Released 2020-01-14 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security and bug fix update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server AUS (v. 7.4) kernel-3.10.0-693.62.1.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-693.62.1.el7, kernel-debug-3.10.0-693.62.1.el7 +7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server E4S (v. 7.4) kernel-3.10.0-693.62.1.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-693.62.1.el7, kernel-bootwrapper-3.10.0-693.62.1.el7 +8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional AUS (v. 7.4) kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-693.62.1.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional E4S (v. 7.4) kernel-debug-devel-3.10.0-693.62.1.el7, kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-693.62.1.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional TUS (v. 7.4) kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-693.62.1.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server TUS (v. 7.4) kernel-3.10.0-693.62.1.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-693.62.1.el7, kernel-debug-3.10.0-693.62.1.el7 +7
- RHSA-2020:0036 Released 2020-01-07 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security and bug fix update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode EUS (v. 7.5) kernel-3.10.0-862.46.1.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-862.46.1.el7, kernel-debug-3.10.0-862.46.1.el7 +8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional EUS (v. 7.5) kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-862.46.1.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 7.5) kernel-3.10.0-862.46.1.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-862.46.1.el7, kernel-bootwrapper-3.10.0-862.46.1.el7 +11
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional EUS (v. 7.5) kernel-debug-devel-3.10.0-862.46.1.el7, kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-862.46.1.el7
Show 2 more Red Hat advisories
- RHSA-2019:2043 Released 2019-08-07 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel-rt security and bug fix update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time (v. 7) kernel-rt-3.10.0-1062.rt56.1022.el7, kernel-rt-debug-3.10.0-1062.rt56.1022.el7, kernel-rt-debug-devel-3.10.0-1062.rt56.1022.el7 +4
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time for NFV (v. 7) kernel-rt-3.10.0-1062.rt56.1022.el7, kernel-rt-debug-3.10.0-1062.rt56.1022.el7, kernel-rt-debug-devel-3.10.0-1062.rt56.1022.el7 +7
- RHSA-2019:2029 Released 2019-08-06 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) bpftool-3.10.0-1062.el7, kernel-3.10.0-1062.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-1062.el7 +8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-1062.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) bpftool-3.10.0-1062.el7, kernel-3.10.0-1062.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-1062.el7 +8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-1062.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) bpftool-3.10.0-1062.el7, kernel-3.10.0-1062.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-1062.el7 +11
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) kernel-debug-devel-3.10.0-1062.el7, kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-1062.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) bpftool-3.10.0-1062.el7, kernel-3.10.0-1062.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-1062.el7 +8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-1062.el7
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:2029 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:2029 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:2029 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode EUS (v. 7.5) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0036 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode EUS (v. 7.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0179 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:2029 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional EUS (v. 7.5) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0036 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional EUS (v. 7.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0179 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:2029 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server AUS (v. 7.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0103 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server E4S (v. 7.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0103 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 7.5) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0036 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 7.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0179 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:2029 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional AUS (v. 7.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0103 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional E4S (v. 7.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0103 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional EUS (v. 7.5) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0036 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional EUS (v. 7.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0179 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional TUS (v. 7.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0103 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server TUS (v. 7.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0103 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:2029 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:2029 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:2043 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time for NFV (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:2043 |
| Red Hat Virtualization 4.2 Hypervisor for RHEL 7.6 EUS | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0179 |
Not affected: 5 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2018-10853
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-vhcx-55j8-pv9c
References
Patch 4
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2018-10853
- https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=129a72a0d3c8e139a04512325384fe5ac119e74
- https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=3c9fa24ca7c9c47605672916491f79e8ccacb9e6
- https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2018/09/02/1
Advisory 11
- [debian-lts-announce] 20180714 [SECURITY] [DLA 1422-1] linux security update
- USN-3777-1
- [debian-lts-announce] 20180715 [SECURITY] [DLA 1422-2] linux security update
- [debian-lts-announce] 20180718 [SECURITY] [DLA 1423-1] linux-4.9 new package
- USN-3777-2
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1407
- RHSA-2019:2043
- RHSA-2019:2029
- RHSA-2020:0036
- RHSA-2020:0103
- RHSA-2020:0179
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Sources
- CVE-2018-10853 · CVE Program
- CVE-2018-10853 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-vhcx-55j8-pv9c · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2018-10853 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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