Description
The LXC driver (lxc/lxc_driver.c) in libvirt 1.0.1 through 1.2.1 allows local users to (1) delete arbitrary host devices via the virDomainDeviceDettach API and a symlink attack on /dev in the container; (2) create arbitrary nodes (mknod) via the virDomainDeviceAttach API and a symlink attack on /dev in the container; and cause a denial of service (shutdown or reboot host OS) via the (3) virDomainShutdown or (4) virDomainReboot API and a symlink attack on /dev/initctl in the container, related to "paths under /proc/$PID/root" and the virInitctlSetRunLevel function.
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 14 | libvirt | 1.2.3-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | libvirt | 1.2.3-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | libvirt | 1.2.3-1 | — |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | libvirt | 2.5.0-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10209-1 |
Advisories 1
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10209-1 libvirt-2.5.0-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- http://libvirt.org/news.html
- 56187 third-party-advisory
- 60895 third-party-advisory
- GLSA-201412-04 vendor-advisory
- http://libvirt.org/git/?p=libvirt.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=5fc590ad9f4
- openSUSE-SU-2014:0593 vendor-advisory
- http://security.libvirt.org/2013/0018.html
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1045643
- FEDORA-2014-2864 vendor-advisory
- 65743 vdb-entry
- https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=732394
- 56215 third-party-advisory