CVE intelligence and bounded remediation

CVE-2018-1120 — A flaw was found affecting the Linux kernel before version 4.17

Medium CVSS 5.3

A flaw was found affecting the Linux kernel before version 4.17. By mmap()ing a FUSE-backed file onto a process's memory containing command line arguments (or environment strings), an attacker can cause utilities from psutils or procps (such as ps, w) or any other program which makes a read() call to the /proc/<pid>/cmdline (or /proc/<pid>/environ) files to block indefinitely (denial of service) or for some controlled time (as a synchronization primitive for other attacks).

Severity
Medium
CVSS
5.3 (3.0)
Published
2018-06-20
CISA KEV
Not currently listed
Ecosystem
linux/kernel
Weaknesses
CWE-122, CWE-119

Affected products

  • linux / linux_kernel
  • redhat / virtualization_host / 4.0
  • redhat / enterprise_linux_desktop / 7.0
  • redhat / enterprise_linux_server / 7.0
  • redhat / enterprise_linux_workstation / 7.0
  • debian / debian_linux / 8.0

Showing 6 representative product identities from 8 source matches. Confirm exact affected versions with the linked vendor and NVD evidence.

Matched remediation archetype

Buffer bounds, memory safety, and memory corruption

This catalog composition supplies bounded fallback guidance. Explicitly reviewed curated workflows load with the complete record below.

Check exposure

  • Identify affected native-code versions, build flags, architectures, parsers, codecs, drivers, and input paths in all shipped artifacts.
  • Determine whether untrusted data reaches the affected routine and the process privilege, sandbox, and network exposure.
  • Confirm statically linked, vendored, firmware, and platform-provided copies, not only package-manager records.

Remediate safely

  • Apply the maintained upstream correction or replace the affected component, then rebuild every dependent artifact from clean inputs.
  • Adopt bounds-checked interfaces, validated sizes and integer conversions, clear ownership, and memory-safe components where practical.
  • Enable supported compiler and runtime hardening and add sanitized tests and fuzz regression seeds derived from non-weaponized fixtures.

Authoritative sources

Complete CVE record and remediation plan

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