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TI-2012-01894 Aliases CVE-2012-2121GHSA-c72r-fqqv-r8jm

The KVM implementation in the Linux kernel before 3.3.4 does not properly manage the…

Priority LOW 23CWE-264Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
Privileges required
None
User interaction
— Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Security bypass
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
None · None · Complete
Fix status
Partial Red Hat: 10 fixed, 1 without a fix

Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-264.

Summary

The KVM implementation in the Linux kernel before 3.3.4 does not properly manage the relationships between memory slots and the iommu, which allows guest OS users to cause a denial of service (memory leak and host OS crash) by leveraging administrative access to the guest OS to conduct hotunplug and hotplug operations on devices.

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.00413 35th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Red Hat: 2 advisoriesRed Hat: 10 fixed, 1 without a fix

SSVC decision points

Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
——all versions—No fix listedCNA
  • — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*up to 3.3.3VulnerableLinux
  • cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 3.3.3 Vulnerable ·Linux

Remediation

Red Hat 2 advisories

  • RHSA-2012:0743 Released 2012-06-18 · Red Hat rating Important
    kernel security and bug fix update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) kernel-2.6.32-220.23.1.el6, kernel-debug-2.6.32-220.23.1.el6, kernel-debug-devel-2.6.32-220.23.1.el6 +5
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Optional (v. 6) kernel-2.6.32-220.23.1.el6, python-perf-2.6.32-220.23.1.el6
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6) kernel-2.6.32-220.23.1.el6, kernel-debug-2.6.32-220.23.1.el6, kernel-debug-devel-2.6.32-220.23.1.el6 +5
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node Optional (v. 6) kernel-2.6.32-220.23.1.el6, python-perf-2.6.32-220.23.1.el6
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) kernel-2.6.32-220.23.1.el6, kernel-bootwrapper-2.6.32-220.23.1.el6, kernel-debug-2.6.32-220.23.1.el6 +8
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 6) kernel-2.6.32-220.23.1.el6, python-perf-2.6.32-220.23.1.el6
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) kernel-2.6.32-220.23.1.el6, kernel-debug-2.6.32-220.23.1.el6, kernel-debug-devel-2.6.32-220.23.1.el6 +5
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 6) kernel-2.6.32-220.23.1.el6, python-perf-2.6.32-220.23.1.el6
  • RHSA-2012:0676 Released 2012-05-21 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    kvm security and bug fix update
    • RHEL Desktop Multi OS (v. 5 client) kmod-kvm-83-249.el5_8.4, kmod-kvm-debug-83-249.el5_8.4, kvm-83-249.el5_8.4 +2
    • RHEL Virtualization (v. 5 server) kmod-kvm-83-249.el5_8.4, kmod-kvm-debug-83-249.el5_8.4, kvm-83-249.el5_8.4 +2

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5AffectedNo fix yet
RHEL Desktop Multi OS (v. 5 client)Fixed RHSA-2012:0676
RHEL Virtualization (v. 5 server)Fixed RHSA-2012:0676
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6)Fixed RHSA-2012:0743
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Optional (v. 6)Fixed RHSA-2012:0743
Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6)Fixed RHSA-2012:0743
Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node Optional (v. 6)Fixed RHSA-2012:0743
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6)Fixed RHSA-2012:0743
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 6)Fixed RHSA-2012:0743
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6)Fixed RHSA-2012:0743
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 6)Fixed RHSA-2012:0743
Not affected: 1 product
  • Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2012-2121
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-c72r-fqqv-r8jm

References

Advisory 5

Other 4

  • 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
See all 15278 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences