arm64: entry: fix ARM64_WORKAROUND_SPECULATIVE_UNPRIV_LOAD
Currently the ARM64_WORKAROUND_SPECULATIVE_UNPRIV_LOAD workaround isn't
quite right, as it is supposed to be applied after the last explicit
memory access, but is immediately followed by an LDR.
The ARM64_WORKAROUND_SPECULATIVE_UNPRIV_LOAD workaround is used to
handle Cortex-A520 erratum 2966298 and Cortex-A510 erratum 3117295,
which are described in:
* https://developer.arm.com/documentation/SDEN2444153/0600/?lang=en
* https://developer.arm.com/documentation/SDEN1873361/1600/?lang=en
In both cases the workaround is described as:
| If pagetable isolation is disabled, the context switch logic in the
| kernel can be updated to execute the following sequence on affected
| cores before exiting to EL0, and after all explicit memory accesses:
|
| 1. A non-shareable TLBI to any context and/or address, including
| unused contexts or addresses, such as a `TLBI VALE1 Xzr`.
|
| 2. A DSB NSH to guarantee completion of the TLBI.
The important part being that the TLBI+DSB must be placed "after all
explicit memory accesses".
Unfortunately, as-implemented, the TLBI+DSB is immediately followed by
an LDR, as we have:
| alternative_if ARM64_WORKAROUND_SPECULATIVE_UNPRIV_LOAD
| tlbi vale1, xzr
| dsb nsh
| alternative_else_nop_endif
| alternative_if_not ARM64_UNMAP_KERNEL_AT_EL0
| ldr lr, [sp, #S_LR]
| add sp, sp, #PT_REGS_SIZE // restore sp
| eret
| alternative_else_nop_endif
|
| [ ... KPTI exception return path ... ]
This patch fixes this by reworking the logic to place the TLBI+DSB
immediately before the ERET, after all explicit memory accesses.
The ERET is currently in a separate alternative block, and alternatives
cannot be nested. To account for this, the alternative block for
ARM64_UNMAP_KERNEL_AT_EL0 is replaced with a single alternative branch
to skip the KPTI logic, with the new shape of the logic being:
| alternative_insn "b .L_skip_tramp_exit_\@", nop, ARM64_UNMAP_KERNEL_AT_EL0
| [ ... KPTI exception return path ... ]
| .L_skip_tramp_exit_\@:
|
| ldr lr, [sp, #S_LR]
| add sp, sp, #PT_REGS_SIZE // restore sp
|
| alternative_if ARM64_WORKAROUND_SPECULATIVE_UNPRIV_LOAD
| tlbi vale1, xzr
| dsb nsh
| alternative_else_nop_endif
| eret
The new structure means that the workaround is only applied when KPTI is
not in use; this is fine as noted in the documented implications of the
erratum:
| Pagetable isolation between EL0 and higher level ELs prevents the
| issue from occurring.
... and as per the workaround description quoted above, the workaround
is only necessary "If pagetable isolation is disabled".
No analysis available yet.
No remediation available yet.
Tracking
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| Source | ID | Title |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu USN |
USN-6818-1 | Linux kernel vulnerabilities |
Ubuntu USN |
USN-6818-2 | Linux kernel (ARM laptop) vulnerabilities |
Ubuntu USN |
USN-6818-3 | Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities |
Ubuntu USN |
USN-6818-4 | Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities |
Ubuntu USN |
USN-6819-1 | Linux kernel vulnerabilities |
Ubuntu USN |
USN-6819-2 | Linux kernel vulnerabilities |
Ubuntu USN |
USN-6819-3 | Linux kernel (OEM) vulnerabilities |
Ubuntu USN |
USN-6819-4 | Linux kernel (Oracle) vulnerabilities |
Mon, 17 Mar 2025 15:30:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| First Time appeared |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| Weaknesses | CWE-787 | |
| CPEs | cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| Vendors & Products |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| Metrics |
cvssV3_1
|
cvssV3_1
|
Wed, 13 Nov 2024 02:45:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| First Time appeared |
Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux |
|
| CPEs | cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:9 cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9 |
|
| Vendors & Products |
Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux |
Tue, 05 Nov 2024 10:15:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Metrics |
ssvc
|
Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: Linux
Published:
Updated: 2025-10-01T18:01:07.303Z
Reserved: 2024-02-19T14:20:24.150Z
Link: CVE-2024-26670
Updated: 2024-08-02T00:14:12.513Z
Status : Modified
Published: 2024-04-02T07:15:43.760
Modified: 2025-10-01T18:15:36.873
Link: CVE-2024-26670
OpenCVE Enrichment
No data.
Ubuntu USN