1. Ubuntu Security Notices
  2. USN-4253-2

USN-4253-2: Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerability

Publication date

28 January 2020

Overview

he Linux kernel could be made to expose sensitive information.

Releases

Packages

  • linux-hwe - Linux hardware enablement (HWE) kernel

Details

USN-4253-1 fixed vulnerabilities in the Linux kernel for Ubuntu 19.10.
This update provides the corresponding updates for the Linux
Hardware Enablement (HWE) kernel from Ubuntu 19.10 for Ubuntu
18.04 LTS.

It was discovered that the Linux kernel did not properly clear data
structures on context switches for certain Intel graphics processors. A
local attacker could use this to expose sensitive information.

USN-4253-1 fixed vulnerabilities in the Linux kernel for Ubuntu 19.10.
This update provides the corresponding updates for the Linux
Hardware Enablement (HWE) kernel from Ubuntu 19.10 for Ubuntu
18.04 LTS.

It was discovered that the Linux kernel did not properly clear data
structures on context switches for certain Intel graphics processors. A
local attacker could use this to expose sensitive information.

Update instructions

After a standard system update you need to reboot your computer to make all the necessary changes.

Learn more about how to get the fixes.

ATTENTION: Due to an unavoidable ABI change the kernel updates have been given a new version number, which requires you to recompile and reinstall all third party kernel modules you might have installed. Unless you manually uninstalled the standard kernel metapackages (e.g. linux-generic, linux-generic-lts-RELEASE, linux-virtual, linux-powerpc), a standard system upgrade will automatically perform this as well.

The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following package versions:

Ubuntu Release Package Version
18.04 bionic linux-image-5.3.0-28-generic –  5.3.0-28.30~18.04.1
linux-image-5.3.0-28-generic-lpae –  5.3.0-28.30~18.04.1
linux-image-5.3.0-28-lowlatency –  5.3.0-28.30~18.04.1
linux-image-generic-hwe-18.04 –  5.3.0.28.96
linux-image-generic-lpae-hwe-18.04 –  5.3.0.28.96
linux-image-lowlatency-hwe-18.04 –  5.3.0.28.96
linux-image-snapdragon-hwe-18.04 –  5.3.0.28.96
linux-image-virtual-hwe-18.04 –  5.3.0.28.96

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References

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