The kvm_emulate_hypercall function in arch/x86/kvm/x86.c in KVM in the Linux kernel…
Priority LOW 32CWE-399Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- — Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Complete · Complete · Complete
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-399 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
The kvm_emulate_hypercall function in arch/x86/kvm/x86.c in KVM in the Linux kernel 2.6.25-rc1, and other versions before 2.6.31, when running on x86 systems, does not prevent access to MMU hypercalls from ring 0, which allows local guest OS users to cause a denial of service (guest kernel crash) and read or write guest kernel memory via unspecified "random addresses."
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.004 34th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed Red Hat: 1 advisory
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
Remediation
Red Hat 1 advisory
- RHSA-2009:1465 Released 2009-09-29 · Red Hat rating Importantkvm security and bug fix update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Multi OS (v. 5 client) kmod-kvm-83-105.el5_4.7, kvm-83-105.el5_4.7, kvm-qemu-img-83-105.el5_4.7 +1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Virtualization (v. 5 server) kmod-kvm-83-105.el5_4.7, kvm-83-105.el5_4.7, kvm-qemu-img-83-105.el5_4.7 +1
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Multi OS (v. 5 client) | Fixed | RHSA-2009:1465 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Virtualization (v. 5 server) | Fixed | RHSA-2009:1465 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2009-3290
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-854c-mqcx-rhcc
References
Advisory 2
Other 6
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=524124
- [oss-security] 20090918 CVE request: kernel: KVM: x86: Disallow hypercalls for guest callers in rings > 0
- [oss-security] 20090922 Re: CVE request: kernel: KVM: x86: Disallow hypercalls for guest callers in rings > 0
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:11328
- [oss-security] 20090921 Re: CVE request: kernel: KVM: x86: Disallow hypercalls for guest callers in rings > 0
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=07708c4af1346ab1521b26a202f438366b7bcffd
More Linux Kernel vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-26358 tls: fix handling of zero-length records on the rx_list KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-38352 netfilter: bridge: make ebt_snat ARP rewrite writable KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2013-05264 The (1) get_user and (2) put_user API functions in the Linux kernel before 3.5.5 on the… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2022-00125 Integer overflow in kernel KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2013-01864 The perf_swevent_init function in kernel/events/core.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2021-05514 Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACE KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.3
Sources
- CVE-2009-3290 · CVE Program
- CVE-2009-3290 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-854c-mqcx-rhcc · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2009-3290 · 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