An issue was discovered in the Linux kernel through 5.10.1, as used with Xen through…
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-416 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
An issue was discovered in the Linux kernel through 5.10.1, as used with Xen through 4.14.x. The Linux kernel PV block backend expects the kernel thread handler to reset ring->xenblkd to NULL when stopped. However, the handler may not have time to run if the frontend quickly toggles between the states connect and disconnect. As a consequence, the block backend may re-use a pointer after it was freed. A misbehaving guest can trigger a dom0 crash by continuously connecting / disconnecting a block frontend. Privilege escalation and information leaks cannot be ruled out. This only affects systems with a Linux blkback.
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 · 8
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:xen:xen:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 4.14.1 | Vulnerable | Xen |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.1.44 to before 4.2; 4.4.80 to before 4.4.254; 4.9.36 to before 4.9.249; 4.11.9 to before 4.12; 4.12 to before 4.14.213; 4.15 to before 4.19.164; 4.20 to before 5.4.86; 5.5 to before 5.10.4 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:netapp:hci_compute_node_bios:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:h:netapp:hci_compute_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:a:netapp:solidfire_\&_hci_management_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:a:netapp:solidfire_\&_hci_storage_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 10.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
- cpe:2.3:o:xen:xen:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 4.14.1 Vulnerable ·Xen
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.1.44 to before 4.2; 4.4.80 to before 4.4.254; 4.9.36 to before 4.9.249; 4.11.9 to before 4.12; 4.12 to before 4.14.213; 4.15 to before 4.19.164; 4.20 to before 5.4.86; 5.5 to before 5.10.4 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:netapp:hci_compute_node_bios:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:h:netapp:hci_compute_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:a:netapp:solidfire_\&_hci_management_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:a:netapp:solidfire_\&_hci_storage_node:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Vendor assessments
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2020-29569
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-6676-52pp-h5fg
References
Sources
- CVE-2020-29569 · CVE Program
- CVE-2020-29569 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-6676-52pp-h5fg · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2020-29569 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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