Description
The xhci_kick_epctx function in hw/usb/hcd-xhci.c in QEMU (aka Quick Emulator) allows local guest OS privileged users to cause a denial of service (infinite loop and QEMU process crash) via vectors related to control transfer descriptor sequence.
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-3 | — |
| Debian 13 | qemu | 1:2.8+dfsg-3 | — |
| Debian 12 | qemu | 1:2.8+dfsg-3 | — |
| Debian 8 | qemu | 1:2.1+dfsg-12+deb8u7 | DLA-1497-1 |
| Debian 7 | qemu +1 | 1.1.2+dfsg-6+deb7u20 | DLA-845-1, DLA-842-1 |
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 | 2.6.2-41.16.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:1774-1 |
| SLES 12 SP1 | qemu | 2.3.1-33.3.3 | SUSE-SU-2017:2946-1 |
| SLES 12 SP1 | xen | 4.5.5_06-22.11.2 | SUSE-SU-2017:0570-1 |
| SLES 12 | qemu | 2.0.2-48.34.3 | SUSE-SU-2017:2969-1 |
| SLES 12 | xen | 4.4.4_14-22.33.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0582-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | kvm | 1.4.2-60.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:2963-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | xen | 4.4.4_14-51.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0647-1 |
| SLES 11 SP3 | kvm | 1.4.2-53.11.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:3084-1 |
Show 6 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | qemu | 2.6.2-41.16.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:1774-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | qemu | 2.3.1-33.3.3 | SUSE-SU-2017:2946-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | xen | 4.5.5_06-22.11.2 | SUSE-SU-2017:0570-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 | xen | 4.4.4_14-22.33.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0582-1 |
| SLES for SAP 11 SP4 | kvm | 1.4.2-60.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:2963-1 |
| SLES for SAP 11 SP4 | xen | 4.4.4_14-51.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0647-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 6 | qemu | 2.3.1-33.3.3 | SUSE-SU-2017:2946-1 |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Point of Sale 11 SP3 | kvm | 1.4.2-53.11.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:3084-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | qemu | 6.1.0-32.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:11287-1 |
Advisories 15
- 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-842-1 qemu-kvm - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-845-1 qemu - 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-2017:0582-1 Security update for xen SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:0570-1 Security update for xen SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:0647-1 Security update for xen SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:1774-1 Security update for qemu 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-2017:2963-1 Security update for kvm SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:3084-1 Security update for kvm 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
- SUSE-SU-2017:2946-1 Security update for qemu SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 2, 2025
References
- [qemu-devel] 20170206 [PATCH] xhci: apply limits to loops mailing-list
- [debian-lts-announce] 20180906 [SECURITY] [DLA 1497-1] qemu security update mailing-list
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1421626
- RHSA-2017:2392 vendor-advisory
- GLSA-201704-01 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20170214 CVE-2017-5973 Qemu: usb: infinite loop while doing control transfer in xhci_kick_epctx mailing-list
- http://git.qemu-project.org/?p=qemu.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=f89b60f6e5fee3923bedf80e82b4e5efc1bb156b
- 96220 vdb-entry
- RHSA-2017:2408 vendor-advisory