Description
The KVM implementation in the Linux kernel before 3.3.6 allows host OS users to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and host OS crash) by making a KVM_CREATE_IRQCHIP ioctl call after a virtual CPU already exists.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 6.0 | linux-2.6 | 2.6.32-44 | DSA-2469-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6 | perf +15 | 2.6.32-220.17.1.el6 | RHSA-2012:0571 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Rhel Virtualization 5 | kvm +4 | 83-249.el5_8.4 | RHSA-2012:0676 |
Advisories 3
- RHSA-2012:0676 Red Hat Security Advisory: kvm security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2012:0571 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-2469-1 linux-2.6 - several Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/9c895160d25a76c21b65bad141b08e8d4f99afef
- SUSE-SU-2012:1679 vendor-advisory
- DSA-2469 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20120329 Re: CVE request -- kernel: kvm: irqchip_in_kernel() and vcpu->arch.apic inconsistency mailing-list
- RHSA-2012:0571 vendor-advisory
- 1026897 vdb-entry
- openSUSE-SU-2013:0925 vendor-advisory
- 49928 third-party-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=808199
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/ChangeLog-3.3.6
- RHSA-2012:0676 vendor-advisory