Description
libvirt before 2.0.0 improperly disables password checking when the password on a VNC server is set to an empty string, which allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and establish a VNC session by connecting to the server.
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 | 2.0.0-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | libvirt | 2.0.0-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | libvirt | 2.0.0-1 | — |
| Debian 8 | libvirt | 1.2.9-9+deb8u3 | DSA-3613-1 |
| Debian 7 | libvirt | 0.9.12.3-1+deb7u2 | DLA-541-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | libvirt | 1.3.1-1ubuntu10.19 | USN-3576-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | libvirt | 1.2.2-0ubuntu13.1.26 | USN-3576-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | libvirt +19 | 2.0.0-10.el7 | RHSA-2016:2577 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Gluster Storage 3 | libvirt-daemon-lxc +2 | 2.0.0-10.el7 | RHSA-2016:2577 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP1 | libvirt | 1.2.18.4-11.7 | SUSE-SU-2016:2053-1 |
| SLES 12 | libvirt | 1.2.5-27.13.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:2141-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | libvirt | 1.2.5-15.3 | SUSE-SU-2016:1944-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | perl-Sys-Virt | 1.2.5-4.2 | SUSE-SU-2016:1944-1 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | libvirt | 1.2.18.4-11.7 | SUSE-SU-2016:2053-1 |
| SLES for SAP 11 SP4 | libvirt | 1.2.5-15.3 | SUSE-SU-2016:1944-1 |
| SLES for SAP 11 SP4 | perl-Sys-Virt | 1.2.5-4.2 | SUSE-SU-2016:1944-1 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | libvirt +19 | 2.0.0-10.el7 | ELSA-2016-2577 |
Advisories 8
- RHSA-2016:2577 Red Hat Security Advisory: libvirt security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- USN-3576-1 libvirt vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DLA-541-1 libvirt - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-3613-1 libvirt - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:2141-1 Security update for libvirt SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:1944-1 Security update for libvirt SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:2053-1 Security update for libvirt SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- ELSA-2016-2577 Moderate: libvirt security, bug fix, and enhancement update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Nov 9, 2016
References
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1180092
- FEDORA-2016-65cc608ebe vendor-advisory
- DSA-3613 vendor-advisory
- 91562 vdb-entry
- http://security.libvirt.org/2016/0001.html
- openSUSE-SU-2016:1810 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2016-7b7e16a39e vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2016:1975 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2016:1809 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2016:2577 vendor-advisory
- USN-3576-1 vendor-advisory