CVE-2024-50115

KVM: nSVM: Ignore nCR3[4:0] when loading PDPTEs from memory

Published Nov 5, 2024 CVSS 3.1 · 8.4 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

KVM: nSVM: Ignore nCR3[4:0] when loading PDPTEs from memory

Ignore nCR3[4:0] when loading PDPTEs from memory for nested SVM, as bits
4:0 of CR3 are ignored when PAE paging is used, and thus VMRUN doesn't
enforce 32-byte alignment of nCR3.

In the absolute worst case scenario, failure to ignore bits 4:0 can result
in an out-of-bounds read, e.g. if the target page is at the end of a
memslot, and the VMM isn't using guard pages.

Per the APM:

The CR3 register points to the base address of the page-directory-pointer
table. The page-directory-pointer table is aligned on a 32-byte boundary,
with the low 5 address bits 4:0 assumed to be 0.

And the SDM's much more explicit:

4:0 Ignored

Note, KVM gets this right when loading PDPTRs, it's only the nSVM flow
that is broken.

Analysis

No analysis available yet

Remediation

No remediation available yet

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4008-1 linux-6.1 security update
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4075-1 linux security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7276-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7277-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7288-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7288-2 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7289-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7289-2 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7289-3 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7289-4 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7291-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7305-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7308-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7310-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7331-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7388-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7389-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA Tegra) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7390-1 Linux kernel (Xilinx ZynqMP) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7449-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7449-2 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7450-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7451-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7452-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7453-1 Linux kernel (Real-time) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7458-1 Linux kernel (IBM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7468-1 Linux kernel (Azure, N-Series) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7523-1 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi Real-time) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7524-1 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi) vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.1, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 8.4, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:H'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.12:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.12:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.12:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.12:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 4.7, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N'}

ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.1, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics epss

{'score': 0.00042}

epss

{'score': 0.00046}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics epss

{'score': 0.00041}

epss

{'score': 0.00042}

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
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-125
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 4.7, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: KVM: nSVM: Ignore nCR3[4:0] when loading PDPTEs from memory Ignore nCR3[4:0] when loading PDPTEs from memory for nested SVM, as bits 4:0 of CR3 are ignored when PAE paging is used, and thus VMRUN doesn't enforce 32-byte alignment of nCR3. In the absolute worst case scenario, failure to ignore bits 4:0 can result in an out-of-bounds read, e.g. if the target page is at the end of a memslot, and the VMM isn't using guard pages. Per the APM: The CR3 register points to the base address of the page-directory-pointer table. The page-directory-pointer table is aligned on a 32-byte boundary, with the low 5 address bits 4:0 assumed to be 0. And the SDM's much more explicit: 4:0 Ignored Note, KVM gets this right when loading PDPTRs, it's only the nSVM flow that is broken.
Title KVM: nSVM: Ignore nCR3[4:0] when loading PDPTEs from memory
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
Aug 5, 2026, 11:41 AM
Reserved
Oct 21, 2024, 7:36 PM
Status
Modified
Published
Nov 5, 2024, 6:15 PM
Modified
Aug 4, 2026, 11:21 AM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Nov 5, 2024, 12:00 AM