Description
The VGA module in QEMU improperly performs bounds checking on banked access to video memory, which allows local guest OS administrators to execute arbitrary code on the host by changing access modes after setting the bank register, aka the "Dark Portal" issue.
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 | 1:2.6+dfsg-1 | — |
| Debian 14 | xen | 4.4.0-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | qemu | 1:2.6+dfsg-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | xen | 4.4.0-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | qemu | 1:2.6+dfsg-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | xen | 4.4.0-1 | — |
| Debian 8 | qemu | 1:2.1+dfsg-12+deb8u6 | DSA-3573-1 |
| Debian 7 | qemu | 1.1.2+dfsg-6a+deb7u13 | DLA-540-1 |
| Debian 7 | qemu-kvm | 1.1.2+dfsg-6+deb7u13 | DLA-539-1 |
| Debian 7 | xen | 4.1.6.lts1-1 | DLA-571-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | qemu | 1:2.5+dfsg-5ubuntu10.1 | USN-2974-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | qemu | 2.0.0+dfsg-2ubuntu1.24 | USN-2974-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | xen | 4.4.2-0ubuntu0.14.04.6 | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | qemu-img +6 | 10:1.5.3-105.el7_2.4 | RHSA-2016:0724 |
| RHEL 7 | qemu-img-rhev +6 | 10:2.3.0-31.el7_2.13 | RHSA-2016:0725 |
| RHEL 6 | qemu-img +3 | 2:0.12.1.2-2.491.el6_8.1 | RHSA-2016:0997 |
| RHEL 6 | qemu-img-rhev +2 | 2:0.12.1.2-2.479.el6_7.5 | RHSA-2016:1224 |
Show 5 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Rhel Virtualization 5 | kvm +4 | 83-276.el5_11 | RHSA-2016:1943 |
| Red Hat OpenStack 8 | qemu-img-rhev +5 | 10:2.3.0-31.el7_2.13 | RHSA-2016:1002 |
| Red Hat OpenStack 7 | qemu-img-rhev +5 | 10:2.3.0-31.el7_2.13 | RHSA-2016:1001 |
| Red Hat OpenStack 6 | qemu-img-rhev +6 | 10:2.3.0-31.el7_2.13 | RHSA-2016:1000 |
| Red Hat OpenStack 5 | libcacard-rhev +4 | 10:2.3.0-31.el7_2.13 | RHSA-2016:0999 |
| Red Hat OpenStack 5 | qemu-img-rhev +2 | 2:0.12.1.2-2.491.el6_8.1 | RHSA-2016:1019, RHSA-2016:0999 |
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 | 4.5.3_08-17.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2093-1 |
| SLES 12 | qemu | 2.0.2-48.19.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1560-1 |
| SLES 12 | xen | 4.4.4_04-22.22.2 | SUSE-SU-2016:2533-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | kvm | 1.4.2-44.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1785-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | xen | 4.4.4_07-37.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2100-1 |
| SLES 11 SP3 | kvm | 1.4.2-46.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1698-1 |
| SLES 11 SP3 | xen | 4.2.5_21-27.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2725-1 |
| SLES 11 SP2 | xen | 4.1.6_08-29.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2528-1 |
Show 7 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 | 4.5.3_08-17.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2093-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 | qemu | 2.0.2-48.19.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1560-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 | xen | 4.4.4_04-22.22.2 | SUSE-SU-2016:2533-1 |
| 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_07-37.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2100-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 5 | xen | 4.2.5_21-27.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2725-1 |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 2.1 | xen | 4.2.5_21-27.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2725-1 |
| SUSE Manager 2.1 | xen | 4.2.5_21-27.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2725-1 |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Point of Sale 11 SP3 | xen | 4.2.5_21-27.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2725-1 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | qemu-img +6 | 10:1.5.3-105.el7_2.4 | ELSA-2016-0724 |
Advisories 25
- RHSA-2016:1943 Red Hat Security Advisory: kvm security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2016:1224 Red Hat Security Advisory: qemu-kvm-rhev security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2016:1002 Red Hat Security Advisory: qemu-kvm-rhev security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2016:1019 Red Hat Security Advisory: qemu-kvm-rhev security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2016:1000 Red Hat Security Advisory: qemu-kvm-rhev security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2016:1001 Red Hat Security Advisory: qemu-kvm-rhev security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2016:0997 Red Hat Security Advisory: qemu-kvm security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2016:0999 Red Hat Security Advisory: qemu-kvm-rhev security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2016:0724 Red Hat Security Advisory: qemu-kvm security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2016:0725 Red Hat Security Advisory: qemu-kvm-rhev security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- DLA-540-1 qemu - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-571-1 xen - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-539-1 qemu-kvm - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-3573-1 qemu - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- USN-2974-1 qemu, qemu-kvm vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:1703-1 Security update for qemu SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:2528-1 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-2016:2533-1 Security update for xen SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:2725-1 Security update for xen SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:2100-1 Security update for xen 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-2016:2093-1 Security update for xen SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- ELSA-2016-0724 Important: qemu-kvm security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · May 9, 2016
References
- http://xenbits.xen.org/xsa/advisory-179.html
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/ovmbulletinjul2016-3090546.html
- RHSA-2016:0999 vendor-advisory
- 90316 vdb-entry
- RHSA-2016:0725 vendor-advisory
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinapr2016-2952096.html
- RHSA-2016:1000 vendor-advisory
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinoct2016-3090545.html
- http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX212736
- RHSA-2016:1002 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2016:1001 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2016:0997 vendor-advisory
- https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05164862
- 1035794 vdb-entry
- RHSA-2016:1943 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2016:1019 vendor-advisory
- USN-2974-1 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20160509 CVE-2016-3710 Qemu: vga: out-of-bounds r/w access issue mailing-list
- RHSA-2016:0724 vendor-advisory
- [Qemu-devel] 20160509 [PULL 1/5] vga: fix banked access bounds checking (CVE-2016-3710) mailing-list
- RHSA-2016:1224 vendor-advisory
- DSA-3573 vendor-advisory