Description
The serial_update_parameters function in hw/char/serial.c in QEMU (aka Quick Emulator) allows local guest OS administrators to cause a denial of service (divide-by-zero error and QEMU process crash) via vectors involving a value of divider greater than baud base.
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 | 1:2.8+dfsg-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | qemu | 1:2.8+dfsg-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | qemu | 1:2.8+dfsg-1 | — |
| Debian 8 | qemu | 1:2.1+dfsg-12+deb8u7 | DLA-1497-1 |
| Debian 7 | qemu +1 | 1.1.2+dfsg-6+deb7u17 | DLA-679-1, DLA-678-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | qemu | 1:2.5+dfsg-5ubuntu10.11 | USN-3261-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | qemu | 2.0.0+dfsg-2ubuntu1.33 | USN-3261-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | qemu-img-rhev +3 | 10:2.9.0-14.el7 | RHSA-2017:2392 |
Show 6 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat OpenStack 11 | qemu-img-rhev +3 | 10:2.9.0-10.el7 | RHSA-2017:2408 |
| Red Hat OpenStack 10 | qemu-img-rhev +3 | 10:2.9.0-10.el7 | RHSA-2017:2408 |
| Red Hat OpenStack 9 | qemu-img-rhev +3 | 10:2.9.0-10.el7 | RHSA-2017:2408 |
| Red Hat OpenStack 8 | qemu-img-rhev +3 | 10:2.9.0-10.el7 | RHSA-2017:2408 |
| Red Hat OpenStack 7 | qemu-img-rhev +3 | 10:2.9.0-10.el7 | RHSA-2017:2408 |
| Red Hat OpenStack 6 | qemu-img-rhev +3 | 10:2.9.0-10.el7 | RHSA-2017:2408 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP2 | qemu | 2.6.2-31.2 | SUSE-SU-2016:2879-1 |
| SLES 12 SP2 | xen | 4.7.1_02-25.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:3067-1 |
| SLES 12 SP1 | qemu | 2.3.1-24.6 | SUSE-SU-2016:2988-1 |
| SLES 12 SP1 | xen | 4.5.5_02-22.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:3083-1 |
| SLES 12 | qemu | 2.0.2-48.25.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2936-1 |
| SLES 12 | xen | 4.4.4_05-22.25.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:3156-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | kvm | 1.4.2-50.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2902-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | xen | 4.4.4_10-43.5 | SUSE-SU-2016:3174-1 |
| SLES 11 SP3 | xen | 4.2.5_21-30.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:3273-1 |
Show 9 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 11 SP2 | xen | 4.1.6_08-32.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:3044-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | qemu | 2.6.2-31.2 | SUSE-SU-2016:2879-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | xen | 4.7.1_02-25.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:3067-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | qemu | 2.3.1-24.6 | SUSE-SU-2016:2988-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | xen | 4.5.5_02-22.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:3083-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 | qemu | 2.0.2-48.25.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2936-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 | xen | 4.4.4_05-22.25.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:3156-1 |
| SLES for SAP 11 SP4 | kvm | 1.4.2-50.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2902-1 |
| SLES for SAP 11 SP4 | xen | 4.4.4_10-43.5 | SUSE-SU-2016:3174-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 5 | xen | 4.2.5_21-30.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:3273-1 |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 2.1 | xen | 4.2.5_21-30.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:3273-1 |
| SUSE Manager 2.1 | xen | 4.2.5_21-30.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:3273-1 |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Point of Sale 11 SP3 | xen | 4.2.5_21-30.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:3273-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | qemu | 6.1.0-32.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:11287-1 |
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | xen | 4.15.1_01-1.2 | openSUSE-SU-2024:11520-1 |
Advisories 18
- RHSA-2017:2392 Red Hat Security Advisory: qemu-kvm-rhev security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jul 1, 2026
- RHSA-2017:2408 Red Hat Security Advisory: qemu-kvm-rhev security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- DLA-678-1 qemu - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-679-1 qemu-kvm - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-1497-1 qemu - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- USN-3261-1 qemu vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:3044-1 Security update for xen SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:2936-1 Security update for qemu SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:2902-1 Security update for kvm SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:2879-1 Security update for qemu SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:3067-1 Security update for xen SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:3174-1 Security update for xen SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:3156-1 Security update for xen SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:3273-1 Security update for xen SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:2988-1 Security update for qemu 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-2024:11520-1 xen-4.15.1_01-1.2 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 7, 2025
- SUSE-SU-2016:3083-1 Security update for xen SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 2, 2025
References
- [debian-lts-announce] 20180906 [SECURITY] [DLA 1497-1] qemu security update mailing-list
- GLSA-201611-11 vendor-advisory
- http://git.qemu.org/?p=qemu.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=3592fe0c919cf27a81d8e9f9b4f269553418bb01
- [oss-security] 20161014 CVE request Qemu: char: divide by zero error in serial_update_parameters mailing-list
- RHSA-2017:2392 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2016:3237 vendor-advisory
- 93563 vdb-entry
- [oss-security] 20161015 Re: CVE request Qemu: char: divide by zero error in serial_update_parameters mailing-list
- RHSA-2017:2408 vendor-advisory