kernel: Uninitialized kernel memory leak in vmw_gb_surface_define_ioctl function
Published Jun 13, 2017
5.5
MEDIUMCVSS 3.0
EPSS 0.40%
Description
The vmw_gb_surface_define_ioctl function (accessible via DRM_IOCTL_VMW_GB_SURFACE_CREATE) in drivers/gpu/drm/vmwgfx/vmwgfx_surface.c in the Linux kernel through 4.11.4 defines a backup_handle variable but does not give it an initial value. If one attempts to create a GB surface, with a previously allocated DMA buffer to be used as a backup buffer, the backup_handle variable does not get written to and is then later returned to user space, allowing local users to obtain sensitive information from uninitialized kernel memory via a crafted ioctl call.
Affected products
No data.
- ≤ 4.11.4
No data.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
kernel
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
kernel
Will not fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
kernel
Will not fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
kernel-alt
Affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
kernel-rt
Will not fix
Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2
realtime-kernel
Will not fix
| Product | Package | State | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | kernel | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | kernel | Will not fix | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | kernel | Will not fix | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | kernel-alt | Affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | kernel-rt | Will not fix | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2 | realtime-kernel | Will not fix | n/a |
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
Red Hat statement
This issue does not affect the Linux kernel packages as shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 as the code where the flaw was found is not present in this product. This issue affects the Linux kernel packages as shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, 7 and MRG-2. This has been rated as having Low security impact and is not currently planned to be addressed in future updates. For additional information, refer to the Red Hat Enterprise Linux Life Cycle: https://access.redhat.com/support/policy/updates/errata/.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v3.1 score for this CVE.
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
1 other source (Red Hat) ▾
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:N/A:N
This CVE is not in the KEV list.
No CISA SSVC assessment for this CVE yet.
Estimated probability of exploitation in the wild in the next 30 days (FIRST EPSS). As of Oct 1, 2026.
Score over time
2021–2026- EPSS v1
- EPSS v5
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
Percentile over time
- EPSS v1
- EPSS v5
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
Table of values (8 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 0.40% (0.00399) | 31.73th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Sep 20, 2026 | 0.40% (0.00399) | 33.99th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jul 20, 2024 | 0.04% (0.00042) | 5.06th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 0.04% (0.00042) | 5.63th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 0.95% (0.00950) | 32.28th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 0.95% (0.00950) | 13.46th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 3, 2022 | 0.67% (0.00666) | 18.77th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Apr 14, 2021 | 0.67% (0.00666) | 0.00th | v1 |
References (9)
- http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=07678eca2cf9c9a18584e546c2b2a0d0c9a3150c x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory
- http://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3927 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_DEBIAN
- http://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3945 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_DEBIAN
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/99095 vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-9605 Vendor Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1462172 Issue Tracking
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/07678eca2cf9c9a18584e546c2b2a0d0c9a3150c x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-9605
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-9605
| Link | Providers | Tags |
|---|---|---|
| http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=07678eca2cf9c9a18584e546c2b2a0d0c9a3150c | x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory | |
| http://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3927 | vendor-advisoryx_refsource_DEBIAN | |
| http://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3945 | vendor-advisoryx_refsource_DEBIAN | |
| http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/99095 | vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry | |
| https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-9605 | Vendor Advisory | |
| https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1462172 | Issue Tracking | |
| https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/07678eca2cf9c9a18584e546c2b2a0d0c9a3150c | x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory | |
| https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-9605 | ||
| https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-9605 |
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.