Out-of-bounds read in kernel
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
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-787 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
A flaw was found in the KVM's AMD code for supporting the Secure Encrypted Virtualization-Encrypted State (SEV-ES). A KVM guest using SEV-ES can trigger out-of-bounds reads and writes in the host kernel via a malicious VMGEXIT for a string I/O instruction (for example, outs or ins) using the exit reason SVM_EXIT_IOIO. This issue results in a crash of the entire system or a potential guest-to-host escape scenario.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | kernel | kernel 5.15 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- kernel Vendor— Affected kernel 5.15 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 5
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.11 to before 5.14.16 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:35:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 35 | Vulnerable | Fedoraproject |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:20.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 20.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:21.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 21.10 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.11 to before 5.14.16 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:35:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 35 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:20.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 20.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:21.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 21.10 Vulnerable ·Canonical
Remediation
Red Hat 2 advisories
- RHSA-2022:1988 Released 2022-05-10 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) bpftool-4.18.0-372.9.1.el8, kernel-4.18.0-372.9.1.el8, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-372.9.1.el8 +19
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.18.0-372.9.1.el8
- RHSA-2022:1975 Released 2022-05-10 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel-rt security and bug fix update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-372.9.1.rt7.166.el8, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-372.9.1.rt7.166.el8, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-372.9.1.rt7.166.el8 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-372.9.1.rt7.166.el8, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-372.9.1.rt7.166.el8, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-372.9.1.rt7.166.el8 +7
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2022:1988 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2022:1988 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2022:1975 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2022:1975 |
Not affected: 3 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-4093
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-2vg6-vx3w-m2r4
References
Sources
- CVE-2021-4093 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-4093 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-2vg6-vx3w-m2r4 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2021-4093 · 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