CVE-2024-0564
Kernel: max page sharing of kernel samepage merging (ksm) may cause memory deduplication
- State
- Published
- Severity
- 5.3 Medium
- Published
- Jan 30, 2024
- Updated
- Nov 21, 2025
- Reserved
- Jan 15, 2024
Description
A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's memory deduplication mechanism. The max page sharing of Kernel Samepage Merging (KSM), added in Linux kernel version 4.4.0-96.119, can create a side channel. When the attacker and the victim share the same host and the default setting of KSM is "max page sharing=256", it is possible for the attacker to time the unmap to merge with the victim's page. The unmapping time depends on whether it merges with the victim's page and additional physical pages are created beyond the KSM's "max page share". Through these operations, the attacker can leak the victim's page.
Scores
| CVSS | Score | Vector | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | 5.3 Medium | CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N | redhat |
Weaknesses
- CWE-203 Observable Discrepancy
Affected Products
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
kernel |
|
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6Red Hat | |
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7Red Hat | |
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7Red Hat | |
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8Red Hat | |
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8Red Hat | |
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9Red Hat | |
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9Red Hat |
References
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