In the Linux kernel before 4.20.2, kernel/sched/fair.c mishandles leaf cfs_rq's, which…
Priority MEDIUM 49CWE-835Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 4 fixed, 1 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-835.
Summary
In the Linux kernel before 4.20.2, kernel/sched/fair.c mishandles leaf cfs_rq's, which allows attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop in update_blocked_averages) or possibly have unspecified other impact by inducing a high load.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.04173 90th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Red Hat: 2 advisoriesRed Hat: 4 fixed, 1 without a fix
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 · 7
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.13 to before 4.14.93; 4.19 to before 4.19.15; 4.20 to before 4.20.2 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.0:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.0 rc1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* | 14.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* | 16.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 18.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_real_time:8:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.13 to before 4.14.93; 4.19 to before 4.19.15; 4.20 to before 4.20.2 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.0:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.0 rc1 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* Versions 14.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* Versions 16.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 18.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_real_time:8:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
Remediation
Red Hat 2 advisories
- RHSA-2019:1971 Released 2019-07-30 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel-rt security and bug fix update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-80.7.1.rt9.153.el8_0, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-80.7.1.rt9.153.el8_0, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-80.7.1.rt9.153.el8_0 +7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-80.7.1.rt9.153.el8_0, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-80.7.1.rt9.153.el8_0, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-80.7.1.rt9.153.el8_0 +9
- RHSA-2019:1959 Released 2019-07-30 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 8) kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.18.0-80.7.1.el8_0
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) bpftool-4.18.0-80.7.1.el8_0, kernel-4.18.0-80.7.1.el8_0, kernel-abi-whitelists-4.18.0-80.7.1.el8_0 +19
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:1959 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:1959 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:1971 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:1971 |
Not affected: 4 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2018-20784
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-qg2g-rfcv-qffx
References
Patch 2
Sources
- CVE-2018-20784 · CVE Program
- CVE-2018-20784 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-qg2g-rfcv-qffx · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2018-20784 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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