The vmx_set_msr function in arch/x86/kvm/vmx.c in the VMX implementation in the KVM…
Priority LOW 23CWE-20Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- — Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · Complete
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
The vmx_set_msr function in arch/x86/kvm/vmx.c in the VMX implementation in the KVM subsystem in the Linux kernel before 2.6.29.1 on the i386 platform allows guest OS users to cause a denial of service (OOPS) by setting the EFER_LME (aka "Long mode enable") bit in the Extended Feature Enable Register (EFER) model-specific register, which is specific to the x86_64 platform.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.00473 41st percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 10
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 2.6.29.1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:opensuse:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11.0 | Vulnerable | openSUSE |
| cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:opensuse:11.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11.1 | Vulnerable | openSUSE |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:6.06:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.06 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:8.04:*:*:*:-:*:*:* | 8.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:8.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.10 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:9.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 10 | Vulnerable | Fedoraproject |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 2.6.29.1 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:opensuse:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.0 Vulnerable ·openSUSE
- cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:opensuse:11.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.1 Vulnerable ·openSUSE
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:6.06:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.06 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:8.04:*:*:*:-:*:*:* Versions 8.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:8.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.10 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:9.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Vendor assessments
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2009-1242
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-wqvc-c395-66j7
References
Patch 3
Advisory 7
Other 6
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/snapshots/patch-2.6.29-git1.log
- http://www.globalsecuritymag.com/Vigil-nce-Linux-kernel-denial-of%2C20090402%2C8311
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.29.1
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=16175a796d061833aacfbd9672235f2d2725df65
- http://wiki.rpath.com/Advisories:rPSA-2009-0084
- ADV-2009-0924
Sources
- CVE-2009-1242 · CVE Program
- CVE-2009-1242 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-wqvc-c395-66j7 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2009-1242 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences