In the Linux kernel before 4.17, a local attacker able to set attributes on an xfs…
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 12 fixed, 1 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
In the Linux kernel before 4.17, a local attacker able to set attributes on an xfs filesystem could make this filesystem non-operational until the next mount by triggering an unchecked error condition during an xfs attribute change, because xfs_attr_shortform_addname in fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr.c mishandles ATTR_REPLACE operations with conversion of an attr from short to long form.
Why it matters now
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 · 6
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 4.17 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* | 12.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 14.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| 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:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 4.17 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* Versions 12.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 14.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- 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
Remediation
Red Hat 2 advisories
- RHSA-2018:3096 Released 2018-10-30 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel-rt security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time (v. 7) kernel-rt-3.10.0-957.rt56.910.el7, kernel-rt-debug-3.10.0-957.rt56.910.el7, kernel-rt-debug-devel-3.10.0-957.rt56.910.el7 +4
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time for NFV (v. 7) kernel-rt-3.10.0-957.rt56.910.el7, kernel-rt-debug-3.10.0-957.rt56.910.el7, kernel-rt-debug-devel-3.10.0-957.rt56.910.el7 +7
- RHSA-2018:3083 Released 2018-10-30 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) bpftool-3.10.0-957.el7, kernel-3.10.0-957.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-957.el7 +8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-957.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) bpftool-3.10.0-957.el7, kernel-3.10.0-957.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-957.el7 +8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-957.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) bpftool-3.10.0-957.el7, kernel-3.10.0-957.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-957.el7 +11
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) kernel-debug-devel-3.10.0-957.el7, kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-957.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) bpftool-3.10.0-957.el7, kernel-3.10.0-957.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-957.el7 +8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-957.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server (v. 7) kernel-3.10.0-957.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-957.el7, kernel-bootwrapper-3.10.0-957.el7 +10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server Optional (v. 7) kernel-debug-devel-3.10.0-957.el7, kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-957.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 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3083 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3083 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3083 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3083 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3083 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3083 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3083 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3083 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3083 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3083 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3096 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time for NFV (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3096 |
Not affected: 9 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7)
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7)
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7)
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7)
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server (v. 7)
- Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2018-18690
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-pw76-34wq-mpfr
References
Patch 2
Advisory 11
- USN-3848-2
- USN-3847-1
- USN-3847-2
- USN-3849-1
- USN-3849-2
- USN-3848-1
- USN-3847-3
- https://bugzilla.suse.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1105025
- [debian-lts-announce] 20190315 [SECURITY] [DLA 1715-1] linux-4.9 security update
- [debian-lts-announce] 20190327 [SECURITY] [DLA 1731-1] linux security update
- [debian-lts-announce] 20190401 [SECURITY] [DLA 1731-2] linux regression update
Sources
- CVE-2018-18690 · CVE Program
- CVE-2018-18690 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-pw76-34wq-mpfr · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2018-18690 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences