Resource exhaustion in Linux Kernel

CVE-2019-19922

kernel/sched/fair.c in the Linux kernel before 5.3.9, when cpu.cfs_quota_us is used (e.g., with Kubernetes), allows attackers to cause a denial of service against non-cpu-bound applications by generating a workload that triggers unwanted slice expiration, aka CID-de53fd7aedb1. (In other words, although this slice expiration would typically be seen with benign workloads, it is possible that an attacker could calculate how many stray requests are required to force an entire Kubernetes cluster into a low-performance state caused by slice expiration, and ensure that a DDoS attack sent that number of stray requests. An attack does not affect the stability of the kernel; it only causes mismanagement of application execution.)

Vulnerability class: DoS (Denial of Service)

EPSS: 0.009 (59.5th percentile) — read the EPSS interpretation.

CVSS v3 metric

CVSS v3 base score 5.5 (Medium). Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H.

Affected products

Weakness classification (CWE)

Public proof-of-concept exploits

References

  • cve@mitre.org (x_refsource_UBUNTU, vendor-advisory, Third Party Advisory)
  • cve@mitre.org (mailing-list, x_refsource_MLIST, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory)
  • cve@mitre.org (Patch, Third Party Advisory, x_refsource_MISC)
  • cve@mitre.org (Patch, Mailing List, x_refsource_MISC, Vendor Advisory)
  • cve@mitre.org (Patch, Third Party Advisory, x_refsource_MISC)
  • cve@mitre.org (Patch, Mailing List, x_refsource_MISC, Vendor Advisory)
  • cve@mitre.org (Exploit, Third Party Advisory, x_refsource_MISC)
  • cve@mitre.org (Patch, Third Party Advisory, x_refsource_MISC, Issue Tracking)
  • cve@mitre.org (x_refsource_CONFIRM, Third Party Advisory)

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2019-19922?
CVE-2019-19922 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Linux Kernel, classified under Uncontrolled Resource Consumption. CVSS score: 5.5/10. Published 2019-12-22.
How severe is CVE-2019-19922?
Medium severity. CVSS v3 base score is 5.5 out of 10.
Is CVE-2019-19922 known to be exploited?
2 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.