Upstream information

CVE-2023-53208 at MITRE

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

KVM: nSVM: Load L1's TSC multiplier based on L1 state, not L2 state

When emulating nested VM-Exit, load L1's TSC multiplier if L1's desired
ratio doesn't match the current ratio, not if the ratio L1 is using for
L2 diverges from the default. Functionally, the end result is the same
as KVM will run L2 with L1's multiplier if L2's multiplier is the default,
i.e. checking that L1's multiplier is loaded is equivalent to checking if
L2 has a non-default multiplier.

However, the assertion that TSC scaling is exposed to L1 is flawed, as
userspace can trigger the WARN at will by writing the MSR and then
updating guest CPUID to hide the feature (modifying guest CPUID is
allowed anytime before KVM_RUN). E.g. hacking KVM's state_test
selftest to do

vcpu_set_msr(vcpu, MSR_AMD64_TSC_RATIO, 0);
vcpu_clear_cpuid_feature(vcpu, X86_FEATURE_TSCRATEMSR);

after restoring state in a new VM+vCPU yields an endless supply of:

------------[ cut here ]------------
WARNING: CPU: 10 PID: 206939 at arch/x86/kvm/svm/nested.c:1105
nested_svm_vmexit+0x6af/0x720 [kvm_amd]
Call Trace:
nested_svm_exit_handled+0x102/0x1f0 [kvm_amd]
svm_handle_exit+0xb9/0x180 [kvm_amd]
kvm_arch_vcpu_ioctl_run+0x1eab/0x2570 [kvm]
kvm_vcpu_ioctl+0x4c9/0x5b0 [kvm]
? trace_hardirqs_off+0x4d/0xa0
__se_sys_ioctl+0x7a/0xc0
__x64_sys_ioctl+0x21/0x30
do_syscall_64+0x41/0x90
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x63/0xcd

Unlike the nested VMRUN path, hoisting the svm->tsc_scaling_enabled check
into the if-statement is wrong as KVM needs to ensure L1's multiplier is
loaded in the above scenario. Alternatively, the WARN_ON() could simply
be deleted, but that would make KVM's behavior even more subtle, e.g. it's
not immediately obvious why it's safe to write MSR_AMD64_TSC_RATIO when
checking only tsc_ratio_msr.

SUSE information

Overall state of this security issue: Analysis

This issue is currently rated as having moderate severity.

Note from the SUSE Security Team on the kernel-default package

SUSE will no longer fix all CVEs in the Linux Kernel anymore, but declare some bug classes as won't fix. Please refer to TID 21496 for more details.

SUSE Bugzilla entry: 1249698 [NEW]

No SUSE Security Announcements cross referenced.


Status of this issue by product and package

Please note that this evaluation state might be work in progress, incomplete or outdated. Also information for service packs in the LTSS phase is only included for issues meeting the LTSS criteria. If in doubt, feel free to contact us for clarification. The updates are grouped by state of their lifecycle. SUSE product lifecycles are documented on the lifecycle page.

Product(s) Source package State
Products under general support and receiving all security fixes.
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP6 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP6 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 15 SP7 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 15 SP7 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP6 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP6 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP6 kernel-source-azure Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP7 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP7 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP7 kernel-source-azure Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP6 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP6 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP7 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP7 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.1 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.1 kernel-rt Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.1 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.1 kernel-source-rt Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.2 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.2 kernel-rt Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.2 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.2 kernel-source-rt Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 kernel-rt Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 kernel-source-rt Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 kernel-rt Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 kernel-source-rt Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 kernel-source-rt Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP6 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP6 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP7 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP7 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP6 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP6 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP7 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP7 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Legacy 15 SP6 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Legacy 15 SP6 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Legacy 15 SP7 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Legacy 15 SP7 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15 SP6 kernel-source-azure Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15 SP7 kernel-source-azure Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP6 kernel-source-rt Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP7 kernel-source-rt Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6 kernel-source-azure Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP7 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP7 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP7 kernel-source-azure Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.0 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.0 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.0 kernel-source-azure Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP6 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP6 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP6 kernel-source-azure Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP7 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP7 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP7 kernel-source-azure Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 16.0 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 16.0 kernel-source-azure Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 15 SP6 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 15 SP6 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 15 SP7 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 15 SP7 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Micro 6.0 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Micro 6.0 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Micro 6.0 kernel-source-rt Analysis
SUSE Linux Micro 6.1 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Micro 6.1 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Micro 6.1 kernel-source-rt Analysis
SUSE Linux Micro 6.2 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP6 kernel-source-rt Analysis
SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP7 kernel-source-rt Analysis
openSUSE Leap 15.6 kernel-default Analysis
openSUSE Leap 15.6 kernel-source Analysis
openSUSE Leap 15.6 kernel-source-azure Analysis
openSUSE Leap 15.6 kernel-source-rt Analysis
Products under Long Term Service Pack support and receiving important and critical security fixes.
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3-ESPOS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3-LTSS kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3-LTSS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-ESPOS kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-ESPOS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-LTSS kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-LTSS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 12 SP5 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 12 SP5 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP3 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP3 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP4 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP4 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP5 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP5 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP3 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP4 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP5 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP3 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP4 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP5 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 LTSS EXTREME CORE kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 LTSS EXTREME CORE kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS Extended Security kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS Extended Security kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3-LTSS kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3-LTSS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5-LTSS kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5-LTSS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server LTSS Extended Security 12 SP5 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Manager Proxy 4.3 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Manager Proxy LTS 4.3 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Manager Proxy LTS 4.3 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.3 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server LTS 4.3 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server LTS 4.3 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Manager Server 4.3 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Manager Server LTS 4.3 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Manager Server LTS 4.3 kernel-source Analysis
Products past their end of life and not receiving proactive updates anymore.
SUSE CaaS Platform 4.0 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Enterprise Storage 6 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Enterprise Storage 7 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Enterprise Storage 7.1 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 SP4 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP2 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP4 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP1 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP2 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP3 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP4 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP5 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1-ESPOS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1-LTSS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2-ESPOS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2-LTSS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-ESPOS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15-ESPOS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15-LTSS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.0 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP1 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP2 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP1 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP2 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Point of Sale 12 SP2-CLIENT kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP2 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP3 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP3 kernel-source-rt Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP4 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP4 kernel-source-rt Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP5 kernel-source-rt Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 LTSS kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 LTSS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4-LTSS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP2 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP2-BCL kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP2-ESPOS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP2-LTSS kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP2-LTSS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4-ESPOS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4-LTSS kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4-LTSS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-BCL kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-LTSS kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-LTSS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2-BCL kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2-LTSS kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2-LTSS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3-BCL kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15-LTSS kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15-LTSS kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for Raspberry Pi 12 SP2 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP2 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP4 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP1 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP2 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP3 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP3 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP5 kernel-default Analysis
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP5 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Manager Proxy 4.0 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Manager Proxy 4.1 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Manager Proxy 4.2 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.0 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.1 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.2 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Manager Server 4.0 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Manager Server 4.1 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Manager Server 4.2 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE OpenStack Cloud 7 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE OpenStack Cloud 9 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE OpenStack Cloud Crowbar 9 kernel-source Analysis
SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP3 kernel-source-rt Analysis
SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP4 kernel-source-rt Analysis
SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP5 kernel-source-rt Analysis
openSUSE Leap 15.3 kernel-source Analysis
openSUSE Leap 15.3 kernel-source-rt Analysis
openSUSE Leap 15.4 kernel-source Analysis
openSUSE Leap 15.4 kernel-source-rt Analysis
openSUSE Leap 15.5 kernel-source Analysis
openSUSE Leap 15.5 kernel-source-rt Analysis


SUSE Timeline for this CVE

CVE page created: Mon Sep 15 16:29:04 2025
CVE page last modified: Tue Sep 16 14:12:23 2025