USN-5728-2: Linux kernel vulnerabilities

18 November 2022

Several security issues were fixed in the Linux kernel.

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Releases

Packages

  • linux-azure-fde - Linux kernel for Microsoft Azure CVM cloud systems
  • linux-gke - Linux kernel for Google Container Engine (GKE) systems
  • linux-gkeop - Linux kernel for Google Container Engine (GKE) systems
  • linux-raspi-5.4 - Linux kernel for Raspberry Pi systems

Details

Jann Horn discovered that the Linux kernel did not properly track memory
allocations for anonymous VMA mappings in some situations, leading to
potential data structure reuse. A local attacker could use this to cause a
denial of service (system crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code.
(CVE-2022-42703)

It was discovered that a race condition existed in the memory address space
accounting implementation in the Linux kernel, leading to a use-after-free
vulnerability. A local attacker could use this to cause a denial of service
(system crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2022-41222)

It was discovered that a race condition existed in the instruction emulator
of the Linux kernel on Arm 64-bit systems. A local attacker could use this
to cause a denial of service (system crash). (CVE-2022-20422)

It was discovered that the KVM implementation in the Linux kernel did not
properly handle virtual CPUs without APICs in certain situations. A local
attacker could possibly use this to cause a denial of service (host system
crash). (CVE-2022-2153)

Hao Sun and Jiacheng Xu discovered that the NILFS file system
implementation in the Linux kernel contained a use-after-free
vulnerability. A local attacker could use this to cause a denial of service
(system crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2022-2978)

Johannes Wikner and Kaveh Razavi discovered that for some Intel x86-64
processors, the Linux kernel's protections against speculative branch
target injection attacks were insufficient in some circumstances. A local
attacker could possibly use this to expose sensitive information.
(CVE-2022-29901)

Abhishek Shah discovered a race condition in the PF_KEYv2 implementation in
the Linux kernel. A local attacker could use this to cause a denial of
service (system crash) or possibly expose sensitive information (kernel
memory). (CVE-2022-3028)

It was discovered that the Netlink device interface implementation in the
Linux kernel did not properly handle certain error conditions, leading to a
use-after-free vulnerability with some network device drivers. A local
attacker with admin access to the network device could use this to cause a
denial of service (system crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code.
(CVE-2022-3625)

It was discovered that the IDT 77252 ATM PCI device driver in the Linux
kernel did not properly remove any pending timers during device exit,
resulting in a use-after-free vulnerability. A local attacker could
possibly use this to cause a denial of service (system crash) or execute
arbitrary code. (CVE-2022-3635)

Xingyuan Mo and Gengjia Chen discovered that the Promise SuperTrak EX
storage controller driver in the Linux kernel did not properly handle
certain structures. A local attacker could potentially use this to expose
sensitive information (kernel memory). (CVE-2022-40768)

Sönke Huster discovered that a use-after-free vulnerability existed in the
WiFi driver stack in the Linux kernel. A physically proximate attacker
could use this to cause a denial of service (system crash) or possibly
execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2022-42719)

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Ubuntu Pro provides ten-year security coverage to 25,000+ packages in Main and Universe repositories, and it is free for up to five machines.

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Update instructions

The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following package versions:

Ubuntu 20.04
Ubuntu 18.04

After a standard system update you need to reboot your computer to make
all the necessary changes.

ATTENTION: Due to an unavoidable ABI change the kernel updates have
been given a new version number, which requires you to recompile and
reinstall all third party kernel modules you might have installed.
Unless you manually uninstalled the standard kernel metapackages
(e.g. linux-generic, linux-generic-lts-RELEASE, linux-virtual,
linux-powerpc), a standard system upgrade will automatically perform
this as well.

References

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