Description
An issue was discovered in Xen through 4.9.x allowing guest OS users to cause a denial of service (host OS crash) or gain host OS privileges by leveraging incorrect error handling for reference counting in shadow mode.
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 | xen | 4.8.3+comet2+shim4.10.0+comet3-1+deb9u5 | — |
| Debian 13 | xen | 4.8.3+comet2+shim4.10.0+comet3-1+deb9u5 | — |
| Debian 12 | xen | 4.8.3+comet2+shim4.10.0+comet3-1+deb9u5 | — |
| Debian 9 | xen | 4.8.3+comet2+shim4.10.0+comet3-1+deb9u4.1 | DSA-4112-1 |
| Debian 8 | xen | 4.4.4lts2-0+deb8u1 | DLA-1549-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 7 | xen | 4.1.6.lts1-11 | DLA-1230-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | xen | 4.9.2-0ubuntu1 | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | xen | No fix yet | — |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP3 | xen | 4.9.1_08-3.26.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:0438-1 |
| SLES 12 SP2 | xen | 4.7.4_06-43.24.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:0472-1 |
| SLES 12 SP1 | xen | 4.5.5_24-22.43.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:0609-1 |
| SLES 12 | xen | 4.4.4_28-22.62.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:0601-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | xen | 4.4.4_28-61.23.2 | SUSE-SU-2018:0638-1 |
Show 7 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 11 SP3 | xen | 4.2.5_21-45.19.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:0678-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP3 | xen | 4.9.1_08-3.26.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:0438-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | xen | 4.7.4_06-43.24.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:0472-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | xen | 4.5.5_24-22.43.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:0609-1 |
| SLES for SAP 11 SP4 | xen | 4.4.4_28-61.23.2 | SUSE-SU-2018:0638-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 6 | xen | 4.5.5_24-22.43.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:0609-1 |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Point of Sale 11 SP3 | xen | 4.2.5_21-45.19.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:0678-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.6 | xen | 4.8.2-r5 | — |
| Alpine v3.5 | xen | 4.7.3-r5 | — |
| Alpine v3.4 | xen | 4.6.6-r3 | — |
Advisories 9
- DLA-1549-1 xen - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-4112-1 xen - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-1230-1 xen - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:0472-1 Security update for xen SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:0601-1 Security update for xen SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:0638-1 Security update for xen SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:0678-1 Security update for xen SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:0609-1 Security update for xen SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:0438-1 Security update for xen SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 2, 2025
References
- https://xenbits.xen.org/xsa/advisory-250.html
- [debian-lts-announce] 20180105 [SECURITY] [DLA 1230-1] xen security update mailing-list
- [debian-lts-announce] 20181018 [SECURITY] [DLA 1549-1] xen security update mailing-list
- 102172 vdb-entry
- GLSA-201801-14 vendor-advisory
- 1040770 vdb-entry
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/12/12/3
- DSA-4112 vendor-advisory
- https://support.citrix.com/article/CTX232096