CVE-2024-26670
arm64: entry: fix ARM64_WORKAROUND_SPECULATIVE_UNPRIV_LOAD
- State
- Published
- Severity
- 5.5 Medium
- Published
- Apr 2, 2024
- Updated
- Oct 30, 2026
- Reserved
- Feb 19, 2024
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
arm64: entry: fix ARM64_WORKAROUND_SPECULATIVE_UNPRIV_LOAD
Currently the ARM64_WORKAROUND_SPECULATIVE_UNPRIV_LOAD workaround isn't quite right, as it is supposed to be applied after the last explicit memory access, but is immediately followed by an LDR.
The ARM64_WORKAROUND_SPECULATIVE_UNPRIV_LOAD workaround is used to handle Cortex-A520 erratum 2966298 and Cortex-A510 erratum 3117295, which are described in:
* https://developer.arm.com/documentation/SDEN2444153/0600/?lang=en * https://developer.arm.com/documentation/SDEN1873361/1600/?lang=en
In both cases the workaround is described as:
| If pagetable isolation is disabled, the context switch logic in the | kernel can be updated to execute the following sequence on affected | cores before exiting to EL0, and after all explicit memory accesses: | | 1. A non-shareable TLBI to any context and/or address, including | unused contexts or addresses, such as a `TLBI VALE1 Xzr`. | | 2. A DSB NSH to guarantee completion of the TLBI.
The important part being that the TLBI+DSB must be placed "after all explicit memory accesses".
Unfortunately, as-implemented, the TLBI+DSB is immediately followed by an LDR, as we have:
| alternative_if ARM64_WORKAROUND_SPECULATIVE_UNPRIV_LOAD | tlbi vale1, xzr | dsb nsh | alternative_else_nop_endif | alternative_if_not ARM64_UNMAP_KERNEL_AT_EL0 | ldr lr, [sp, #S_LR] | add sp, sp, #PT_REGS_SIZE // restore sp | eret | alternative_else_nop_endif | | [ ... KPTI exception return path ... ]
This patch fixes this by reworking the logic to place the TLBI+DSB immediately before the ERET, after all explicit memory accesses.
The ERET is currently in a separate alternative block, and alternatives cannot be nested. To account for this, the alternative block for ARM64_UNMAP_KERNEL_AT_EL0 is replaced with a single alternative branch to skip the KPTI logic, with the new shape of the logic being:
| alternative_insn "b .L_skip_tramp_exit_\@", nop, ARM64_UNMAP_KERNEL_AT_EL0 | [ ... KPTI exception return path ... ] | .L_skip_tramp_exit_\@: | | ldr lr, [sp, #S_LR] | add sp, sp, #PT_REGS_SIZE // restore sp | | alternative_if ARM64_WORKAROUND_SPECULATIVE_UNPRIV_LOAD | tlbi vale1, xzr | dsb nsh | alternative_else_nop_endif | eret
The new structure means that the workaround is only applied when KPTI is not in use; this is fine as noted in the documented implications of the erratum:
| Pagetable isolation between EL0 and higher level ELs prevents the | issue from occurring.
... and as per the workaround description quoted above, the workaround is only necessary "If pagetable isolation is disabled".
Scores
| CVSS | Score | Vector | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | 5.5 Medium | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H | CISA-ADP |
Weaknesses
- CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write
Affected Products
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
LinuxLinux |
|
LinuxLinux |
|
References
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