kernel: Missing initialization in kernel/compat.c:compat_get_timex() allows local attacker to obtain possibly sensitive information via adjtimex
Published May 28, 2018
5.5
MEDIUMCVSS 3.0
EPSS 1.72%
Description
The compat_get_timex function in kernel/compat.c in the Linux kernel before 4.16.9 allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel memory via adjtimex.
Affected products
No data.
Configuration 1
- < 4.16.9
Configuration 2
- 16.04
- 17.10
- 18.04
No data.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
kernel
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
kernel
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
kernel
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
kernel-alt
Fix deferred
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
kernel-rt
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
kernel
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2
realtime-kernel
Not affected
| Product | Package | State | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | kernel | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | kernel | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | kernel | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | kernel-alt | Fix deferred | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | kernel-rt | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | kernel | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2 | realtime-kernel | Not affected | n/a |
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
No remediation recorded yet.
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:P/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 2, 2026.
Score over time
2021–2026- EPSS v1
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Percentile over time
- EPSS v1
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Table of values (17 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2, 2026 | 1.72% (0.01720) | 76.66th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 1.65% (0.01655) | 73.43th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Mar 30, 2025 | 1.60% (0.01596) | 80.00th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 29, 2025 | 6.87% (0.06873) | 85.27th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 1.60% (0.01596) | 80.41th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 0.05% (0.00049) | 20.14th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| May 17, 2024 | 0.05% (0.00049) | 17.52th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Jul 8, 2023 | 0.05% (0.00049) | 15.47th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| May 8, 2023 | 0.07% (0.00071) | 28.77th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 0.05% (0.00049) | 15.48th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 3.53% (0.03534) | 84.88th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | 3.53% (0.03534) | 83.33th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 3.53% (0.03534) | 66.49th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 3, 2022 | 5.25% (0.05248) | 78.82th | v1 |
| Jan 6, 2022 | 5.25% (0.05248) | 78.61th | v1 |
| Sep 1, 2021 | 5.25% (0.05248) | 88.19th | v1 |
| Apr 14, 2021 | 5.25% (0.05248) | 0.00th | v1 |
References (14)
- http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=0a0b98734479aa5b3c671d5190e86273372cab95 x_refsource_MISCPatchVendor Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/104292 vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-11508 Vendor Advisory
- https://bugs.chromium.org/p/project-zero/issues/detail?id=1574 x_refsource_MISCExploitIssue TrackingThird Party Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1583314 Issue Tracking
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/0a0b98734479aa5b3c671d5190e86273372cab95 x_refsource_MISCPatchThird Party Advisory
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-11508
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/3695-1/ vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTUThird Party Advisory
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/3695-2/ vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTUThird Party Advisory
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/3697-1/ vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTUThird Party Advisory
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/3697-2/ vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTUThird Party Advisory
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-11508
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46208/ exploitx_refsource_EXPLOIT-DBThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- https://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.16.9 x_refsource_MISCRelease NotesVendor Advisory
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.