CVE-2017-12168

Name: CVE-2017-12168
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2017-09-20T08:29:00.21+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

MEDIUMCVSS 6/10EPSS 0.42%

Last modified Jun 17, 2026

CVE-2017-12168 is a medium-severity vulnerability rated 6/10 on the CVSS scale. The access_pmu_evcntr function in arch/arm64/kvm/sys_regs.c in the Linux kernel before 4.8.11 allows privileged KVM guest OS users to cause a denial of service (assertion failure and host OS crash) by accessing the Performance Monitors Cycle Count Register (PMCCNTR).. EPSS estimates a 0.42% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

The access_pmu_evcntr function in arch/arm64/kvm/sys_regs.c in the Linux kernel before 4.8.11 allows privileged KVM guest OS users to cause a denial of service (assertion failure and host OS crash) by accessing the Performance Monitors Cycle Count Register (PMCCNTR).

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

6/10

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H

EPSS Probability

0.42%

33.4th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Linux	Linux Kernel	<= 4.8.10

References

http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=9e3f7a29694049edd728e2400ab57ad7553e5aa9Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory
http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.8.11Release Notes, Vendor Advisory
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1492984Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/9e3f7a29694049edd728e2400ab57ad7553e5aa9Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory
http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=9e3f7a29694049edd728e2400ab57ad7553e5aa9Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory
http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.8.11Release Notes, Vendor Advisory
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1492984Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/9e3f7a29694049edd728e2400ab57ad7553e5aa9Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory

Timeline

Published: Sep 20, 2017
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2017-12168?

How severe is CVE-2017-12168?

CVE-2017-12168 has a CVSS score of 6/10 (MEDIUM severity). The EPSS model estimates a 0.42% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2017-12168?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.

Are you affected by CVE-2017-12168?

Run a free Strix scan to check your systems for this vulnerability.

Scan your code now

Source: NVD / NIST