kernel: kvm: nVMX: missing privilege check allows privilege escalation in nested virtualization
Published Jun 27, 2018
7.8
HIGHCVSS 3.0
EPSS 1.18%
Description
In arch/x86/kvm/vmx.c in the Linux kernel before 4.17.2, when nested virtualization is used, local attackers could cause L1 KVM guests to VMEXIT, potentially allowing privilege escalations and denial of service attacks due to lack of checking of CPL.
Affected products
No data.
Configuration 1
- < 4.17.2
Configuration 2
- 16.04
- 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
Not affected
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 | Not affected | 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
Red Hat statement
This issue does not affect the versions of the kernel package as shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5, 6, 7 and Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v3.1 score for this CVE.
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
1 other source (Red Hat) ▾
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
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 v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Percentile over time
- EPSS v1
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Table of values (13 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 1.18% (0.01182) | 66.61th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 1.18% (0.01182) | 63.57th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 0.16% (0.00164) | 35.00th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 0.07% (0.00068) | 31.83th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| May 17, 2024 | 0.07% (0.00068) | 29.22th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 0.07% (0.00066) | 27.17th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 2.60% (0.02600) | 82.09th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | 2.60% (0.02600) | 80.30th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 2.60% (0.02600) | 61.79th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 3, 2022 | 5.34% (0.05341) | 78.93th | v1 |
| Jan 6, 2022 | 5.34% (0.05341) | 78.72th | v1 |
| Sep 1, 2021 | 5.34% (0.05341) | 88.24th | v1 |
| Apr 14, 2021 | 5.34% (0.05341) | 0.00th | v1 |
References (12)
- http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=727ba748e110b4de50d142edca9d6a9b7e6111d8 x_refsource_MISCPatchVendor Advisory
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-12904 Vendor Advisory
- https://bugs.chromium.org/p/project-zero/issues/detail?id=1589 x_refsource_MISCExploitThird Party Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1595143 Issue Tracking
- https://cdn.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.17.2 x_refsource_MISCRelease NotesVendor Advisory
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/727ba748e110b4de50d142edca9d6a9b7e6111d8 x_refsource_MISCPatchThird Party Advisory
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-12904
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/3752-1/ vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTUThird Party Advisory
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/3752-2/ vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTUThird Party Advisory
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/3752-3/ vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTUThird Party Advisory
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-12904
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/44944/ exploitx_refsource_EXPLOIT-DBThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.