kernel: Integer overflow in Linux's create_elf_tables function
Published Sep 25, 2018 ·Due Feb 16, 2026
7.8
HIGHCVSS 3.0
EPSS 14.69%
Description
An integer overflow flaw was found in the Linux kernel's create_elf_tables() function. An unprivileged local user with access to SUID (or otherwise privileged) binary could use this flaw to escalate their privileges on the system. Kernel versions 2.6.x, 3.10.x and 4.14.x are believed to be vulnerable.
Affected products
-
- Version 2.6.x, 3.10.x, 4.14.xStatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version
Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).
| Vendor | Product | Default status | Versions | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Linux Foundation | Kernel | n/a |
|
Configuration 1
- ≥ 7.1.0 · < 7.1.23
- ≥ 8.0.0 · < 8.0.16
- ≥ 8.1.0 · < 8.1.7
Configuration 2
- ≥ 11.2.1 · < 11.6.4
- ≥ 12.1.0 · < 12.1.5
- ≥ 13.0.0 · < 13.1.1.5
- ≥ 14.0.0 · < 14.0.1.1
- ≥ 14.1.0 · < 14.1.0.6
- ≥ 11.2.1 · < 11.6.4
- ≥ 12.1.0 · < 12.1.5
- ≥ 13.0.0 · < 13.1.1.5
- ≥ 14.0.0 · < 14.0.1.1
- ≥ 14.1.0 · < 14.1.0.6
- ≥ 11.2.1 · < 11.6.4
- ≥ 12.1.0 · < 12.1.5
- ≥ 13.0.0 · < 13.1.1.5
- ≥ 14.0.0 · < 14.0.1.1
- ≥ 14.1.0 · < 14.1.0.6
- ≥ 11.2.1 · < 11.6.4
- ≥ 12.1.0 · < 12.1.5
- ≥ 13.0.0 · < 13.1.1.5
- ≥ 14.0.0 · < 14.0.1.1
- ≥ 14.1.0 · < 14.1.0.6
- ≥ 11.2.1 · < 11.6.4
- ≥ 12.1.0 · < 12.1.5
- ≥ 13.0.0 · < 13.1.1.5
- ≥ 14.0.0 · < 14.0.1.1
- ≥ 14.1.0 · < 14.1.0.6
- ≥ 11.2.1 · < 11.6.4
- ≥ 12.1.0 · < 12.1.5
- ≥ 13.0.0 · < 13.1.1.5
- ≥ 14.0.0 · < 14.0.1.1
- ≥ 14.1.0 · < 14.1.0.6
- ≥ 11.2.1 · < 11.6.4
- ≥ 12.1.0 · < 12.1.5
- ≥ 13.0.0 · < 13.1.1.5
- ≥ 14.0.0 · < 14.0.1.1
- ≥ 14.1.0 · < 14.1.0.6
- ≥ 11.2.1 · < 11.6.4
- ≥ 12.1.0 · < 12.1.5
- ≥ 13.0.0 · < 13.1.1.5
- ≥ 14.0.0 · < 14.0.1.1
- ≥ 14.1.0 · < 14.1.0.6
- ≥ 11.2.1 · < 11.6.4
- ≥ 12.1.0 · < 12.1.5
- ≥ 13.0.0 · < 13.1.1.5
- ≥ 14.0.0 · < 14.0.1.1
- ≥ 14.1.0 · < 14.1.0.6
- ≥ 11.2.1 · < 11.6.4
- ≥ 12.1.0 · < 12.1.5
- ≥ 13.0.0 · < 13.1.1.5
- ≥ 14.0.0 · < 14.0.1.1
- ≥ 14.1.0 · < 14.1.0.6
- ≥ 11.2.1 · < 11.6.4
- ≥ 12.1.0 · < 12.1.5
- ≥ 13.0.0 · < 13.1.1.5
- ≥ 14.0.0 · < 14.0.1.1
- ≥ 14.1.0 · < 14.1.0.6
- ≥ 11.2.1 · < 11.6.4
- ≥ 12.1.0 · < 12.1.5
- ≥ 13.0.0 · < 13.1.1.5
- ≥ 14.0.0 · < 14.0.1.1
- ≥ 14.1.0 · < 14.1.0.6
- ≥ 11.2.1 · < 11.6.4
- ≥ 12.1.0 · < 12.1.5
- ≥ 13.0.0 · < 13.1.1.5
- ≥ 14.0.0 · < 14.0.1.1
- ≥ 14.1.0 · < 14.1.0.6
Configuration 3
- ≥ 5.0.0 · ≤ 5.4.0
- ≥ 6.0.0 · ≤ 6.0.1
- ≥ 7.0.0 · ≤ 7.1.0
- 4.6.0
- 1.0.0
- 3.1.1
- ≥ 2.2.0 · ≤ 2.3.0
- ≥ 5.0.0 · ≤ 5.1.0
- 4.4.0
Configuration 4
- ≥ 2.6.0 · ≤ 2.6.39.4
- ≥ 3.10 · ≤ 3.10.102
- ≥ 4.14 · ≤ 4.14.54
Configuration 5
- 6.0
- 7.0
- 6.0
- 7.0
- 6.5
- 6.6
- 7.6
- 6.7
- 7.5
- 7.6
- 6.6
- 7.6
- 6.0
- 7.0
Configuration 6
- 12.04
- 14.04
Configuration 7
- n/a
No data.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
kernel-0:2.6.32-754.6.3.el6
Fixed · RHSA-2018:2846
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.4 Advanced Update Support
kernel-0:2.6.32-358.94.1.el6
Fixed · RHSA-2018:3643
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.5 Advanced Update Support
kernel-0:2.6.32-431.93.2.el6
Fixed · RHSA-2018:2933
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.6 Advanced Update Support
kernel-0:2.6.32-504.76.2.el6
Fixed · RHSA-2018:2924
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.6 Telco Extended Update Support
kernel-0:2.6.32-504.76.2.el6
Fixed · RHSA-2018:2924
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.7 Extended Update Support
kernel-0:2.6.32-573.65.2.el6
Fixed · RHSA-2018:2925
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
kernel-0:3.10.0-862.14.4.el7
Fixed · RHSA-2018:2748
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
kernel-rt-0:3.10.0-862.14.4.rt56.821.el7
Fixed · RHSA-2018:2763
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.2 Advanced Update Support
kernel-0:3.10.0-327.76.1.el7
Fixed · RHSA-2018:3590
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.2 Telco Extended Update Support
kernel-0:3.10.0-327.76.1.el7
Fixed · RHSA-2018:3590
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.2 Update Services for SAP Solutions
kernel-0:3.10.0-327.76.1.el7
Fixed · RHSA-2018:3590
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.3 Extended Update Support
kernel-0:3.10.0-514.61.1.el7
Fixed · RHSA-2018:3591
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.4 Extended Update Support
kernel-0:3.10.0-693.43.1.el7
Fixed · RHSA-2018:3540
Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2
kernel-rt-1:3.10.0-693.43.1.rt56.630.el6rt
Fixed · RHSA-2018:3586
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
kernel
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
kernel-alt
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
kernel
Not affected
| Product | Package | State | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | kernel-0:2.6.32-754.6.3.el6 | Fixed | RHSA-2018:2846 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.4 Advanced Update Support | kernel-0:2.6.32-358.94.1.el6 | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3643 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.5 Advanced Update Support | kernel-0:2.6.32-431.93.2.el6 | Fixed | RHSA-2018:2933 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.6 Advanced Update Support | kernel-0:2.6.32-504.76.2.el6 | Fixed | RHSA-2018:2924 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.6 Telco Extended Update Support | kernel-0:2.6.32-504.76.2.el6 | Fixed | RHSA-2018:2924 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.7 Extended Update Support | kernel-0:2.6.32-573.65.2.el6 | Fixed | RHSA-2018:2925 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | kernel-0:3.10.0-862.14.4.el7 | Fixed | RHSA-2018:2748 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | kernel-rt-0:3.10.0-862.14.4.rt56.821.el7 | Fixed | RHSA-2018:2763 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.2 Advanced Update Support | kernel-0:3.10.0-327.76.1.el7 | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3590 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.2 Telco Extended Update Support | kernel-0:3.10.0-327.76.1.el7 | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3590 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.2 Update Services for SAP Solutions | kernel-0:3.10.0-327.76.1.el7 | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3590 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.3 Extended Update Support | kernel-0:3.10.0-514.61.1.el7 | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3591 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.4 Extended Update Support | kernel-0:3.10.0-693.43.1.el7 | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3540 |
| Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2 | kernel-rt-1:3.10.0-693.43.1.rt56.630.el6rt | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3586 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | kernel | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | kernel-alt | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | kernel | Not affected | n/a |
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
Red Hat statement
This issue does not affect 32-bit systems as they do not have a large enough address space to exploit this flaw. Systems with less than 32GB of memory are very unlikely to be affected by this issue due to memory demands during exploitation. This issue does not affect the versions of Linux kernel as shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5. This issue affects the version of the kernel packages as shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, 7 and Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2. Future kernel updates for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, 7 and Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2 will address this issue.
Red Hat mitigation
To mitigate the issue: Enable and install kernel-debuginfo packages as per https://access.redhat.com/solutions/666123 1) On the host, save the following in a file with the ".stp" extension: // CVE-2018-14634 // // Theory of operations: adjust the thread's # rlimit-in-effect around // calls to the vulnerable get_arg_page() function so as to encompass // the newly required _STK_LIM / 4 * 3 maximum. // Complication: the rlimit is stored in a current-> structure that // is shared across the threads of the process. They may concurrently // invoke this operation. function clamp_stack_rlim_cur:long () %{ struct rlimit *rlim = current->signal->rlim; unsigned long rlim_cur = READ_ONCE(rlim[RLIMIT_STACK].rlim_cur); unsigned long limit = _STK_LIM / 4 * 3; limit *= 4; // multiply it back up, to the scale used by rlim_cur if (rlim_cur > limit) { WRITE_ONCE(rlim[RLIMIT_STACK].rlim_cur, limit); STAP_RETURN(limit); } else STAP_RETURN(0); %} probe kernel.function("copy_strings").call { l = clamp_stack_rlim_cur() if (l) printf("lowered process %s(%d) STACK rlim_cur to %p\n", execname(), pid(), l) } probe begin { printf("CVE-2018-14634 mitigation loaded\n") } probe end { printf("CVE-2018-14634 mitigation unloaded\n") } 2) Install the "systemtap" package and any required dependencies. Refer to the "2. Using SystemTap" chapter in the Red Hat Enterprise Linux "SystemTap Beginners Guide" document, available from docs.redhat.com, for information on installing the required -debuginfo and matching kernel-devel packages 3) Run the "stap -g [filename-from-step-1].stp" command as root. If the host is rebooted, the changes will be lost and the script must be run again. Alternatively, build the systemtap script on a development system with "stap -g -p 4 [filename-from-step-1].stp", distribute the resulting kernel module to all affected systems, and run "staprun -L <module>" on those. When using this approach only systemtap-runtime package is required on the affected systems. Please notice that the kernel version must be the same across all systems. This may not be a suitable workaround if your application uses massive amounts of stack space. Please consider this if there are any adverse affects when running this mitigation.
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:H/A:H
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
Date Added
Jan 26, 2026
Patch Due
Feb 16, 2026
Required Action
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
CISA SSVC (Vulnrichment)
Stakeholder-Specific Vulnerability Categorization from CISA ADP.
Exploitation
ActiveAutomatable
NoTechnical Impact
TotalDecision
n/aAssessed Jan 27, 2026 · SSVC 2.0.3
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 (37 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 14.69% (0.14689) | 96.57th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 14.81% (0.14806) | 96.25th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| May 17, 2026 | 20.57% (0.20572) | 95.65th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| May 13, 2026 | 24.09% (0.24091) | 96.12th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| May 2, 2026 | 25.62% (0.25618) | 96.26th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Apr 20, 2026 | 23.58% (0.23579) | 96.00th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Apr 14, 2026 | 19.96% (0.19962) | 95.47th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 30, 2026 | 21.46% (0.21461) | 95.67th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 29, 2026 | 25.91% (0.25915) | 96.23th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 23, 2026 | 17.07% (0.17068) | 94.93th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 22, 2026 | 18.71% (0.18714) | 95.21th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 21, 2026 | 20.62% (0.20622) | 95.52th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Feb 24, 2026 | 25.70% (0.25699) | 96.13th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Feb 17, 2026 | 20.62% (0.20623) | 95.44th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Feb 16, 2026 | 16.68% (0.16680) | 94.77th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Feb 4, 2026 | 11.53% (0.11529) | 93.44th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Feb 3, 2026 | 15.71% (0.15709) | 94.56th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jan 30, 2026 | 19.49% (0.19488) | 95.22th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jan 29, 2026 | 22.20% (0.22202) | 95.64th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jan 27, 2026 | 18.00% (0.17997) | 94.97th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Nov 21, 2025 | 3.42% (0.03418) | 86.96th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Nov 18, 2025 | 0.89% (0.00890) | 73.53th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Apr 29, 2025 | 2.90% (0.02899) | 85.57th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 28, 2025 | 3.93% (0.03932) | 87.26th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 2.89% (0.02886) | 85.39th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 0.04% (0.00043) | 11.34th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Jun 20, 2024 | 0.04% (0.00043) | 9.56th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Jul 8, 2023 | 0.04% (0.00043) | 7.56th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 0.04% (0.00042) | 0.50th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 3.82% (0.03821) | 85.56th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | 3.82% (0.03821) | 84.08th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 3.82% (0.03821) | 67.27th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 3, 2022 | 10.43% (0.10429) | 87.53th | v1 |
| Jan 6, 2022 | 10.43% (0.10429) | 87.38th | v1 |
| Sep 1, 2021 | 10.43% (0.10429) | 95.05th | v1 |
| Jul 21, 2021 | 10.43% (0.10429) | 0.00th | v1 |
| Apr 14, 2021 | 10.02% (0.10018) | 0.00th | v1 |
References (29)
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Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.