LiveActive security incident?Get immediate response
CVE Record

CVE-2014-9419: The __switch_to function in arch/x86/kernel/process_64.c in the Linux kernel through 3.18.1 does not ensure...

The __switch_to function in arch/x86/kernel/process_64.c in the Linux kernel through 3.18.1 does not ensure that Thread Local Storage (TLS) descriptors are loaded before proceeding with other steps, which makes it easier for local users to bypass the ASLR protection mechanism via a crafted application that reads a TLS base address.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Discuss exposureBack to CVEs
Glexia's Takemoderate

Analyst readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a Linux kernel weakness that can expose address layout information to a local user. By itself, the source describes an ASLR bypass aid, not remote compromise. It matters most where untrusted users or workloads can run code on affected x86_64 Linux systems.

Executive priority

Treat this as a legacy Linux hygiene issue with elevated importance on systems allowing local code execution by untrusted users. It is not evidenced here as remotely exploitable or actively exploited, but it can reduce exploit resistance.

Technical view

In Linux x86_64 kernels through 3.18.1, __switch_to in arch/x86/kernel/process_64.c did not ensure TLS descriptors were loaded before subsequent context-switch work. A crafted local application could read a TLS base address, weakening ASLR and potentially supporting chained exploitation.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on legacy or unpatched x86_64 Linux kernels at or before 3.18.1, including distribution kernels covered by the cited Fedora, Ubuntu, Debian, SUSE, Red Hat, and Mandriva advisories.

Exploitation context

The sources describe local-user exploitation to bypass ASLR. The CVE is not listed as KEV in the bundle, and no cited source here supports active exploitation in the wild.

Researcher notes

The key primitive is an x86_64 TLS base address leak during context switching, weakening ASLR. Review the upstream commit f647d7c155f069c1a068030255c300663516420e and vendor backports rather than relying only on upstream version numbers.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply the relevant vendor kernel security update for affected Linux distributions.
  • Confirm systems boot into the updated kernel after patching.
  • Prioritize shared, multi-user, hosting, and container-dense Linux systems.
  • If patch status is unclear, check vendor advisories and kernel changelogs for CVE-2014-9419.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory x86_64 Linux systems and identify kernel package versions.
  • Confirm whether the running kernel is at or before 3.18.1 or vendor-affected.
  • Check vendor advisories for the fixed package covering CVE-2014-9419.
  • Verify scanners or package metadata no longer flag this CVE after reboot.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
12

Public sources used

Based on public source material and reviewed before publication.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2014-9419 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

Open ATT&CK lookup
Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
20Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/an/an/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.