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author | Daniel Baumann <daniel.baumann@progress-linux.org> | 2024-05-18 18:50:03 +0000 |
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committer | Daniel Baumann <daniel.baumann@progress-linux.org> | 2024-05-18 18:50:03 +0000 |
commit | 01a69402cf9d38ff180345d55c2ee51c7e89fbc7 (patch) | |
tree | b406c5242a088c4f59c6e4b719b783f43aca6ae9 /Documentation/process/cve.rst | |
parent | Adding upstream version 6.7.12. (diff) | |
download | linux-01a69402cf9d38ff180345d55c2ee51c7e89fbc7.tar.xz linux-01a69402cf9d38ff180345d55c2ee51c7e89fbc7.zip |
Adding upstream version 6.8.9.upstream/6.8.9
Signed-off-by: Daniel Baumann <daniel.baumann@progress-linux.org>
Diffstat (limited to 'Documentation/process/cve.rst')
-rw-r--r-- | Documentation/process/cve.rst | 121 |
1 files changed, 121 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/Documentation/process/cve.rst b/Documentation/process/cve.rst new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..5e2753eff7 --- /dev/null +++ b/Documentation/process/cve.rst @@ -0,0 +1,121 @@ +==== +CVEs +==== + +Common Vulnerabilities and Exposure (CVE®) numbers were developed as an +unambiguous way to identify, define, and catalog publicly disclosed +security vulnerabilities. Over time, their usefulness has declined with +regards to the kernel project, and CVE numbers were very often assigned +in inappropriate ways and for inappropriate reasons. Because of this, +the kernel development community has tended to avoid them. However, the +combination of continuing pressure to assign CVEs and other forms of +security identifiers, and ongoing abuses by individuals and companies +outside of the kernel community has made it clear that the kernel +community should have control over those assignments. + +The Linux kernel developer team does have the ability to assign CVEs for +potential Linux kernel security issues. This assignment is independent +of the :doc:`normal Linux kernel security bug reporting +process<../process/security-bugs>`. + +A list of all assigned CVEs for the Linux kernel can be found in the +archives of the linux-cve mailing list, as seen on +https://lore.kernel.org/linux-cve-announce/. To get notice of the +assigned CVEs, please `subscribe +<https://subspace.kernel.org/subscribing.html>`_ to that mailing list. + +Process +======= + +As part of the normal stable release process, kernel changes that are +potentially security issues are identified by the developers responsible +for CVE number assignments and have CVE numbers automatically assigned +to them. These assignments are published on the linux-cve-announce +mailing list as announcements on a frequent basis. + +Note, due to the layer at which the Linux kernel is in a system, almost +any bug might be exploitable to compromise the security of the kernel, +but the possibility of exploitation is often not evident when the bug is +fixed. Because of this, the CVE assignment team is overly cautious and +assign CVE numbers to any bugfix that they identify. This +explains the seemingly large number of CVEs that are issued by the Linux +kernel team. + +If the CVE assignment team misses a specific fix that any user feels +should have a CVE assigned to it, please email them at <cve@kernel.org> +and the team there will work with you on it. Note that no potential +security issues should be sent to this alias, it is ONLY for assignment +of CVEs for fixes that are already in released kernel trees. If you +feel you have found an unfixed security issue, please follow the +:doc:`normal Linux kernel security bug reporting +process<../process/security-bugs>`. + +No CVEs will be automatically assigned for unfixed security issues in +the Linux kernel; assignment will only automatically happen after a fix +is available and applied to a stable kernel tree, and it will be tracked +that way by the git commit id of the original fix. If anyone wishes to +have a CVE assigned before an issue is resolved with a commit, please +contact the kernel CVE assignment team at <cve@kernel.org> to get an +identifier assigned from their batch of reserved identifiers. + +No CVEs will be assigned for any issue found in a version of the kernel +that is not currently being actively supported by the Stable/LTS kernel +team. A list of the currently supported kernel branches can be found at +https://kernel.org/releases.html + +Disputes of assigned CVEs +========================= + +The authority to dispute or modify an assigned CVE for a specific kernel +change lies solely with the maintainers of the relevant subsystem +affected. This principle ensures a high degree of accuracy and +accountability in vulnerability reporting. Only those individuals with +deep expertise and intimate knowledge of the subsystem can effectively +assess the validity and scope of a reported vulnerability and determine +its appropriate CVE designation. Any attempt to modify or dispute a CVE +outside of this designated authority could lead to confusion, inaccurate +reporting, and ultimately, compromised systems. + +Invalid CVEs +============ + +If a security issue is found in a Linux kernel that is only supported by +a Linux distribution due to the changes that have been made by that +distribution, or due to the distribution supporting a kernel version +that is no longer one of the kernel.org supported releases, then a CVE +can not be assigned by the Linux kernel CVE team, and must be asked for +from that Linux distribution itself. + +Any CVE that is assigned against the Linux kernel for an actively +supported kernel version, by any group other than the kernel assignment +CVE team should not be treated as a valid CVE. Please notify the +kernel CVE assignment team at <cve@kernel.org> so that they can work to +invalidate such entries through the CNA remediation process. + +Applicability of specific CVEs +============================== + +As the Linux kernel can be used in many different ways, with many +different ways of accessing it by external users, or no access at all, +the applicability of any specific CVE is up to the user of Linux to +determine, it is not up to the CVE assignment team. Please do not +contact us to attempt to determine the applicability of any specific +CVE. + +Also, as the source tree is so large, and any one system only uses a +small subset of the source tree, any users of Linux should be aware that +large numbers of assigned CVEs are not relevant for their systems. + +In short, we do not know your use case, and we do not know what portions +of the kernel that you use, so there is no way for us to determine if a +specific CVE is relevant for your system. + +As always, it is best to take all released kernel changes, as they are +tested together in a unified whole by many community members, and not as +individual cherry-picked changes. Also note that for many bugs, the +solution to the overall problem is not found in a single change, but by +the sum of many fixes on top of each other. Ideally CVEs will be +assigned to all fixes for all issues, but sometimes we will fail to +notice fixes, therefore assume that some changes without a CVE assigned +might be relevant to take. + |