Description
The vmxnet_tx_pkt_parse_headers function in hw/net/vmxnet_tx_pkt.c in QEMU (aka Quick Emulator) allows local guest OS administrators to cause a denial of service (buffer over-read) by leveraging failure to check IP header length.
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-3.1 | — |
| Debian 13 | qemu | 1:2.6+dfsg-3.1 | — |
| Debian 12 | qemu | 1:2.6+dfsg-3.1 | — |
| Debian 8 | qemu | 1:2.1+dfsg-12+deb8u7 | DLA-1497-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | qemu | 1:2.5+dfsg-5ubuntu10.6 | USN-3125-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | qemu | 2.0.0+dfsg-2ubuntu1.30 | USN-3125-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | qemu-img-rhev +3 | 10:2.9.0-14.el7 | RHSA-2017:2392 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP1 | qemu | 2.3.1-33.3.3 | SUSE-SU-2017:2946-1 |
| SLES 12 SP1 | xen | 4.5.3_10-20.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2473-1 |
| SLES 12 | qemu | 2.0.2-48.34.3 | SUSE-SU-2017:2969-1 |
| SLES 12 | xen | 4.4.4_04-22.22.2 | SUSE-SU-2016:2533-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | xen | 4.4.4_08-40.2 | SUSE-SU-2016:2507-1 |
Show 4 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | qemu | 2.3.1-33.3.3 | SUSE-SU-2017:2946-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | xen | 4.5.3_10-20.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2473-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 | xen | 4.4.4_04-22.22.2 | SUSE-SU-2016:2533-1 |
| SLES for SAP 11 SP4 | xen | 4.4.4_08-40.2 | SUSE-SU-2016:2507-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 6 | qemu | 2.3.1-33.3.3 | SUSE-SU-2017:2946-1 |
Advisories 8
- RHSA-2017:2392 Red Hat Security Advisory: qemu-kvm-rhev security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jul 1, 2026
- DLA-1497-1 qemu - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- USN-3125-1 qemu, qemu-kvm vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:2507-1 Security update for xen SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:2473-1 Security update for xen SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:2969-1 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-2017:2946-1 Security update for qemu SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 2, 2025
References
- [qemu-devel] 20160810 Re: [PATCH] net: vmxnet: check IP header length mailing-list
- [debian-lts-announce] 20180906 [SECURITY] [DLA 1497-1] qemu security update mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20160812 CVE request Qemu: buffer overflow in vmxnet_tx_pkt_parse_headers() in vmxnet3 device emulation mailing-list
- http://git.qemu.org/?p=qemu.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=93060258ae748573ca7197204125a2670047896d
- [oss-security] 20160817 Re: CVE request Qemu: buffer overflow in vmxnet_tx_pkt_parse_headers() in vmxnet3 device emulation mailing-list
- RHSA-2017:2392 vendor-advisory