Vulnerability identifier: #VU48756

Vulnerability risk: Low

CVSSv3.1: 3.9 [CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N/E:U/RL:O/RC:C]

CVE-ID: CVE-2020-28368

CWE-ID: CWE-20

Exploitation vector: Local

Exploit availability: No

Vulnerable software:
Xen
Server applications / Virtualization software

Vendor: Xen Project

Description

The vulnerability allows a local privileged user to gain access to sensitive information.

Xen through 4.14.x allows guest OS administrators to obtain sensitive information (such as AES keys from outside the guest) via a side-channel attack on a power/energy monitoring interface, aka a "Platypus" attack. NOTE: there is only one logically independent fix: to change the access control for each such interface in Xen.

Mitigation
Install update from vendor's website.

Vulnerable software versions

Xen: 4.0.0 - 4.14.0

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External links
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2020/11/26/1
http://xenbits.xen.org/xsa/advisory-351.html
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/5J66QUUHXH2RR4CNCKQRGVXVSOUFRPDA/
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/XV23EZIMNLJN4YXRRXLQV2ALW6ZEALXV/
http://platypusattack.com
http://www.zdnet.com/article/new-platypus-attack-can-steal-data-from-intel-cpus/
http://xenbits.xen.org/xsa/advisory-351.html

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Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

No. This vulnerability can be exploited locally. The attacker should have authentication credentials and successfully authenticate on the system.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

No. We are not aware of malware exploiting this vulnerability.