CVE-2023-1998
mediumpriority · track · 32EPSS 0.014 · 72 %ileexploit · PoCDEEURUUSEPSS · scored 2026-10-27
The Linux kernel allows userspace processes to enable mitigations by calling prctl with PR_SET_SPECULATION_CTRL which disables the speculation feature as well as by using seccomp. We had noticed that on VMs of at least one major cloud provider, the kernel still left the victim process exposed to attacks in some cases even after enabling the spectre-BTI mitigation with prctl. The same behavior can be observed on a bare-metal machine when forcing the mitigation to IBRS on boot command line. This happened because when plain IBRS was enabled (not enhanced IBRS), the kernel had some logic that determined that STIBP was not needed. The IBRS bit implicitly protects against cross-thread branch target injection. However, with legacy IBRS, the IBRS bit was cleared on returning to userspace, due to performance reasons, which disabled the implicit STIBP and left userspace threads vulnerable to cross-thread branch target injection against which STIBP protects.
cvss
Technical severity, 0–10. One row per scoring source.
base score 0–10 · higher = more severe · hover a vector to decode
ssvc
A stakeholder decision — act, attend, or track — from exploitation and impact.
weaknesses
The CWE weakness classes this flaw belongs to.
exploits (1)
Public proof-of-concept and weaponised exploit code.
affected products (55)
Products and version ranges known to be affected.
advisories (3)
Vendor and ecosystem advisories describing this.
- WID-SEC-W-2023-0988Linux Kernel: Schwachstelle ermöglicht Umgehen von SicherheitsvorkehrungenDeutsch2023-04-16csaf · cert_bundDE
Ein lokaler Angreifer kann eine Schwachstelle im Linux Kernel ausnutzen, um Sicherheitsvorkehrungen zu umgehen.
- WID-SEC-W-2024-0794Dell ECS: Mehrere SchwachstellenDeutsch2024-04-04csaf · cert_bundDE
Ein Angreifer kann mehrere Schwachstellen in Dell ECS ausnutzen, um seine Privilegien zu erweitern, beliebigen Programmcode mit Administratorrechten auszuführen, Informationen offenzulegen, Dateien zu manipulieren, einen Cross-Site-Scripting-Angriff durchzuführen, Sicherheitsvorkehrungen zu umgehen oder einen Denial of Service Zustand herbeizuführen.
- WID-SEC-W-2024-1086IBM QRadar SIEM: Mehrere SchwachstellenDeutsch2024-05-09csaf · cert_bundDE
Ein Angreifer kann mehrere Schwachstellen in IBM QRadar SIEM ausnutzen, um beliebigen Code auszuführen, Sicherheitsmaßnahmen zu umgehen, einen Denial-of-Service-Zustand herbeizuführen, vertrauliche Informationen offenzulegen, Dateien zu manipulieren, seine Privilegien zu erweitern, einen Cross-Site-Scripting (XSS)-Angriff durchzuführen oder einen nicht spezifizierten Angriff auszuführen.
also known as (3)
Other names and identifiers for this entity.
sources
Which sources assert this record, and when.
references (28)
External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.
- https://cxsecurity.com/cveshow/CVE-2023-1998/cnnvd
- https://github.com/google/security-research/security/advisories/GHSA-mj4w-6495-6crxcnnvd
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/6921ed9049bc7457f66c1596c5b78aec0dae4a9dcnnvd
- https://kernel.dance/#6921ed9049bc7457f66c1596c5b78aec0dae4a9dcnnvd
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/05/msg00005.htmlcnnvd
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/05/msg00006.htmlcnnvd
- https://www.auscert.org.au/bulletins/ESB-2023.2462cnnvd
- https://www.auscert.org.au/bulletins/ESB-2023.2778cnnvd
Attackers weaponise vulnerabilities like this against internet-exposed services. See what is exposed on your perimeter with a free passive scan.
Free scan