# CVE-2018-10901: Privilege escalation in kernel:

> A flaw in Linux kernel KVM allows local attackers to escalate privileges by exploiting improper GDT limit restoration in VMX code.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 26 Jul 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-8j5h-gvcc-pfhw, UBUNTU-CVE-2018-10901

## What is CVE-2018-10901?

CVE-2018-10901 is a high-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 26 Jul 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A flaw was found in Linux kernel's KVM virtualization subsystem. The VMX code does not restore the GDT.LIMIT to the previous host value, but instead sets it to 64KB. With a corrupted GDT limit a host's userspace code has an ability to place malicious entries in the GDT, particularly to the per-cpu variables. An attacker can use this to escalate their privileges.

Weakness: CWE-665 (Improper Initialization)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-10901?

It affects 5 products.


Products: Linux kernel, Redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server Aus, Redhat Enterprise Linux Workstation.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-10901?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2018-10901 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-10901 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

- [CVE-2026-53266](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53266/): Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-6282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6282/): Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-0185](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0185/): Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-2094](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2094/): Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-53362](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53362/): Linux Kernel Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-10901 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-10901 is a high-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 26 Jul 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-10901 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux kernel. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-10901/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-10901/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-10901
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-10901
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-10901

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-10901/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.