Description
The (1) fw_cfg_write and (2) fw_cfg_read functions in hw/nvram/fw_cfg.c in QEMU before 2.4, when built with the Firmware Configuration device emulation support, allow guest OS users with the CAP_SYS_RAWIO privilege to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read or write access and process crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via an invalid current entry value in a firmware configuration.
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 | qemu | 1:2.5+dfsg-4 | — |
| Debian 13 | qemu | 1:2.5+dfsg-4 | — |
| Debian 12 | qemu | 1:2.5+dfsg-4 | — |
| Debian 8 | qemu | 1:2.1+dfsg-12+deb8u5a | DSA-3471-1 |
| Debian 7 | qemu | 1.1.2+dfsg-6a+deb7u12 | DSA-3469-1 |
| Debian 7 | qemu-kvm | 1.1.2+dfsg-6+deb7u12 | DSA-3470-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | qemu | 2.0.0+dfsg-2ubuntu1.22 | USN-2891-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | qemu-img +6 | 10:1.5.3-105.el7_2.3 | RHSA-2016:0083 |
| RHEL 7 | qemu-img-rhev +6 | 10:2.3.0-31.el7_2.7 | RHSA-2016:0084 |
| RHEL 6 | qemu-img +6 | 2:0.12.1.2-2.479.el6_7.4 | RHSA-2016:0082, RHSA-2016:0081 |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat OpenStack 7 | qemu-img-rhev +5 | 10:2.3.0-31.el7_2.7 | RHSA-2016:0088 |
| Red Hat OpenStack 6 | qemu-img-rhev +6 | 10:2.3.0-31.el7_2.7 | RHSA-2016:0087 |
| Red Hat OpenStack 5 | libcacard-rhev +4 | 10:2.3.0-31.el7_2.7 | RHSA-2016:0086 |
| Red Hat OpenStack 5 | qemu-img-rhev +2 | 2:0.12.1.2-2.479.el6_7.4 | RHSA-2016:0086, RHSA-2016:0085 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP1 | qemu | 2.3.1-14.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1703-1 |
| SLES 12 SP1 | xen | 4.5.2_06-7.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:0873-1 |
| SLES 12 | qemu | 2.0.2-48.19.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1560-1 |
| SLES 12 | xen | 4.4.4_02-22.19.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1318-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | kvm | 1.4.2-44.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1785-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | xen | 4.4.4_02-32.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:0955-1 |
| SLES 11 SP3 | kvm | 1.4.2-46.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1698-1 |
| SLES 11 SP3 | xen | 4.2.5_20-24.9 | SUSE-SU-2016:1745-1 |
| SLES 11 SP2 | xen | 4.1.6_08-26.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1154-1 |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | qemu | 2.3.1-14.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1703-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | xen | 4.5.2_06-7.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:0873-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 | qemu | 2.0.2-48.19.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1560-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 | xen | 4.4.4_02-22.19.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1318-1 |
| SLES for SAP 11 SP4 | kvm | 1.4.2-44.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1785-1 |
| SLES for SAP 11 SP4 | xen | 4.4.4_02-32.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:0955-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | qemu | 6.1.0-32.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:11287-1 |
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | xen | 4.7.0_12-1.3 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10196-1 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | qemu-img +6 | 10:1.5.3-105.el7_2.3 | ELSA-2016-0083 |
Advisories 24
- USN-2891-1 qemu, qemu-kvm vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Sep 7, 2026
- RHSA-2016:0088 Red Hat Security Advisory: qemu-kvm-rhev security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2016:0086 Red Hat Security Advisory: qemu-kvm-rhev security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2016:0087 Red Hat Security Advisory: qemu-kvm-rhev security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2016:0084 Red Hat Security Advisory: qemu-kvm-rhev security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2016:0085 Red Hat Security Advisory: qemu-kvm-rhev security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2016:0082 Red Hat Security Advisory: qemu-kvm security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2016:0083 Red Hat Security Advisory: qemu-kvm security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2016:0081 Red Hat Security Advisory: qemu-kvm-rhev security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- DSA-3471-1 qemu - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-3469-1 qemu - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-3470-1 qemu-kvm - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:1703-1 Security update for qemu SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:1318-1 Security update for xen SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:1785-1 Security update for kvm SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:1560-1 Security update for qemu SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:1698-1 Security update for kvm SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:0955-1 Security update for xen SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:1154-1 Security update for xen SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:11287-1 qemu-6.1.0-32.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 7, 2025
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10196-1 xen-4.7.0_12-1.3 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 7, 2025
- SUSE-SU-2016:1745-1 Security update for xen SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 2, 2025
- SUSE-SU-2016:0873-1 Security update for xen SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 2, 2025
- ELSA-2016-0083 Important: qemu-kvm security and bug fix update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Jan 28, 2016
References
- [oss-security] 20160112 Re: CVE request Qemu: nvram: OOB r/w access in processing firmware configurations mailing-list
- RHSA-2016:0083 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2016:0085 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2016:0086 vendor-advisory
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinjan2016-2867209.html
- [oss-security] 20160112 Re: Re: CVE request Qemu: nvram: OOB r/w access in processing firmware configurations mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20160111 CVE request Qemu: nvram: OOB r/w access in processing firmware configurations mailing-list
- 1034858 vdb-entry
- [Qemu-devel] 20160106 [PATCH v2 for v2.3.0] fw_cfg: add check to validate current entry value mailing-list
- RHSA-2016:0081 vendor-advisory
- 80250 vdb-entry
- GLSA-201604-01 vendor-advisory
- DSA-3469 vendor-advisory
- DSA-3470 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2016:0082 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2016:0087 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2016:0084 vendor-advisory
- DSA-3471 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2016:0088 vendor-advisory