CVE-2018-14678: canonical ubuntu_linux Improper Initialization
Vulnerability summary
CVE-2018-14678 is a high (CVSS 7.8) Improper Initialization vulnerability in canonical ubuntu_linux. EPSS estimates a 0.41% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 35.2% of scored vulnerabilities.
Not severe (CVSS 7.8, local access); no exploitation reported by the 5 checked sources
Source freshness unavailable
How is this decided?Advisory lineage
Upstream 0 · Downstream 9 · Related 3Timeline
- 28-07-2018PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
- 05-08-2024Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.
Description
An issue was discovered in the Linux kernel through 4.17.11, as used in Xen through 4.11.x. The xen_failsafe_callback entry point in arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S does not properly maintain RBX, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (uninitialized memory usage and system crash). Within Xen, 64-bit x86 PV Linux guest OS users can trigger a guest OS crash or possibly gain privileges.
CVSS metrics
5 scores · 3 sources · 3 versions- OSV · UbuntuEcosystem advisory · calculated7.8HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- OSV · DebianEcosystem advisory · calculated7.8HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS trend
Probability
0.41%
Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days
Percentile
35%
Versus all other CVEs
30-day change
No change 0.00 pp
From 0.41% on 04-10-2026
Known exploited
Compare KEV catalogs
CISA KEVNot in the CISA KEV catalog.
ENISA CNWNot in the ENISA CNW catalog.
CIRCLNot in the CIRCL catalog.
Public exploits
0 foundNo public exploits indexed.
Weaknesses
CWE · root causeAffected systems
Known conditions: local access, low-privilege account, no user interaction (CVSS vector). Other conditions: not stated in public data.
Ubuntu10 products
- linux< 4.15.0-47.50
- linux-aws< 4.15.0-1035.37
- linux-aws-hwe< 4.15.0-1035.37~16.04.1
- linux-azure< 4.15.0-1041.45~14.04.1 | < 4.15.0-1041.45 | < 4.18.0-1011.11~18.04.1
- linux-gcp< 4.15.0-1029.31~16.04.1 | < 4.15.0-1029.31
Debian2 products
- linux< 4.17.14-1
- debian_linuxEOL8.0 | 9.0
Canonical1 product
- ubuntu_linuxEOL14.04 | 16.04 | 18.04
Linux1 product
- linux_kernel≥ 4.14.21, < 4.14.61 | ≥ 4.15.5, < 4.17.13
Xen1 product
- xen≤ 4.11.0
5 vendors · 15 products
References
13 links
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/10/msg00003.htmlMailing ListX Refsource MLISTThird Party Advisory