Xen · Xen · CVE-2019-18423
**Name of the Vulnerable Software and Affected Versions**
Xen versions prior to 4.13
**Description**
An issue in Xen allows ARM guest OS users to cause a denial of service via a XENMEM add to physmap hypercall. The functions `p2m resolve translation fault()` and `p2m get entry()` use `p2m->max mapped gfn` to sanity check guest physical frames, but the function `p2m get root pointer()` ignores unused top bits of a guest physical frame, leading to aliasing. This can cause `p2m->max mapped gfn` to be updated incorrectly, potentially leading to a hypervisor crash. A malicious guest administrator may exploit this issue to cause a Denial of Service (DoS). Only Arm systems are vulnerable, while x86 systems are not affected.
**Recommendations**
For Xen versions prior to 4.13, update to a newer version to mitigate the risk of exploitation. As a temporary workaround, consider restricting access to the `XENMEM add to physmap` hypercall to minimize the risk of exploitation. Additionally, restrict access to the `p2m get root pointer()` function until a patch is available.