CVE-2024-53135: KVM: VMX: Bury Intel PT virtualization (guest/host mode) behind CONFIG_BROKEN

Published Dec 4, 2024
·
Updated

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

KVM: VMX: Bury Intel PT virtualization (guest/host mode) behind CONFIGBROKEN

Hide KVM's ptmode module param behind CONFIGBROKEN, i.e. disable support for virtualizing Intel PT via guest/host mode unless BROKEN=y. There are myriad bugs in the implementation, some of which are fatal to the guest, and others which put the stability and health of the host at risk.

For guest fatalities, the most glaring issue is that KVM fails to ensure tracing is disabled, and stays disabled prior to VM-Enter, which is necessary as hardware disallows loading (the guest's) RTITCTL if tracing is enabled (enforced via a VMX consistency check). Per the SDM:

If the logical processor is operating with Intel PT enabled (if IA32RTITCTL.TraceEn = 1) at the time of VM entry, the "load IA32RTITCTL" VM-entry control must be 0.

On the host side, KVM doesn't validate the guest CPUID configuration provided by userspace, and even worse, uses the guest configuration to decide what MSRs to save/load at VM-Enter and VM-Exit. E.g. configuring guest CPUID to enumerate more address ranges than are supported in hardware will result in KVM trying to passthrough, save, and load non-existent MSRs, which generates a variety of WARNs, ToPA ERRORs in the host, a potential deadlock, etc.

Other sources

This CVE was automatically created from a reference found in an email or other text. If you are reading this, then this CVE entry is probably erroneous, since this text should be replaced by the official CVE description automatically.

Launchpad

Affected Software

16 affected componentsFixes available
Linux Linux kernel>=5.0<6.1.119
Linux Linux kernel>=6.2<6.6.63
Linux Linux kernel>=6.7<6.11.10
Linux Linux kernel=6.12-rc1
Linux Linux kernel=6.12-rc2
Linux Linux kernel=6.12-rc3
Linux Linux kernel=6.12-rc4
Linux Linux kernel=6.12-rc5
Linux Linux kernel=6.12-rc6
Linux Linux kernel=6.12-rc7
debian/linux<=5.10.223-1
5.10.234-16.1.129-16.1.135-16.12.25-16.12.27-1
debian/linux-6.1
6.1.129-1~deb11u1
IBM Verify Identity Access<=11.0 - 11.0.2
IBM Security Verify Access<=10.0 - 10.0.9.1
IBM Verify Identity Access Container<=11.0 - 11.0.2
IBM Security Verify Access Container<=10.0 - 10.0.9.1

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade debian/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.10.234-1Fixed in 6.1.129-1Fixed in 6.1.135-1Fixed in 6.12.25-1Fixed in 6.12.27-1
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade debian/linux-6.1 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.1.129-1~deb11u1
  3. Configuration

    Disable support for virtualizing Intel PT via guest/host mode unless BROKEN=y; bury KVM's pt_mode module parameter behind CONFIG_BROKEN so that Intel PT guest/host virtualization is not available by default.

    Linux kernel KVM (VMX Intel PT guest/host virtualization) CONFIG_BROKEN = y
  4. Compensating control

    On the host, ensure KVM does not use guest-provided CPUID configuration to decide what MSRs to save/load at VM-Enter and VM-Exit; validate guest CPUID so KVM does not attempt to passthrough/save/load non-existent MSRs (which can generate WARNs/ToPA ERRORs and lead to potential deadlock).

Event History

Dec 4, 2024
CVE Published
via MITRE·02:20 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·02:20 PM
Description
Data Sourced
via Red Hat·03:01 PM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Data Sourced
via NVD·03:15 PM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Feb 20, 2025
Data Sourced
via Launchpad·12:52 AM
Description
May 3, 2025
Data Sourced
via Ubuntu·01:09 AM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Jul 8, 2026
Data Sourced
via IBM·12:00 AM
DescriptionAffected Software

Parent advisories

This vulnerability appears in the following advisories.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2024-53135?

CVE-2024-53135 is considered a medium severity vulnerability in the Linux kernel.

2

How do I fix CVE-2024-53135?

To fix CVE-2024-53135, update your Linux kernel to a version that has resolved this vulnerability.

3

Which versions of the Linux kernel are affected by CVE-2024-53135?

CVE-2024-53135 affects Linux kernel versions from 5.0 to 6.1.119 and from 6.2 to 6.6.63, among others.

4

What does CVE-2024-53135 affect in the Linux kernel?

CVE-2024-53135 affects the KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) and its handling of Intel Processor Trace (PT) virtualization.

5

Is there a workaround for CVE-2024-53135?

Disabling the KVM's pt_mode module parameter may serve as a temporary workaround for CVE-2024-53135 until a kernel update can be applied.

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