It was discovered that the Linux kernel’s Infiniband subsystem did not properly sanitize its input parameters while registering memory regions from userspace. A local user could exploit this flaw to cause a denial of service (system crash) or to potentially gain administrative privileges.
Update instructions:
The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following package versions:
Ubuntu 14.10:
linux-image-3.16.0-31-generic 3.16.0-31.43
linux-image-3.16.0-31-generic-lpae 3.16.0-31.43
linux-image-3.16.0-31-lowlatency 3.16.0-31.43
linux-image-3.16.0-31-powerpc-e500mc 3.16.0-31.43
linux-image-3.16.0-31-powerpc-smp 3.16.0-31.43
linux-image-3.16.0-31-powerpc64-emb 3.16.0-31.43
linux-image-3.16.0-31-powerpc64-smp 3.16.0-31.43
After a standard system update you need to reboot your computer to make all the necessary changes.
References:
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/usn-2530-1
CVE-2014-8159
Package Information:
https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/3.16.0-31.43