The patch_instruction function in hw/i386/kvmvapic.c in QEMU does not initialize the…
Priority LOW 29Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · None · None
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 11 fixed, 1 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The patch_instruction function in hw/i386/kvmvapic.c in QEMU does not initialize the imm32 variable, which allows local guest OS administrators to obtain sensitive information from host stack memory by accessing the Task Priority Register (TPR).
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.00372 31st percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Red Hat: 3 advisoriesRed Hat: 11 fixed, 1 without a fix
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 · 26
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:qemu:qemu:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 2.6.2 | Vulnerable | QEMU |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* | 12.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* | 14.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:15.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 15.10 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 16.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:a:redhat:openstack:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:a:redhat:openstack:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:a:redhat:openstack:8:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:a:redhat:openstack:9:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
- cpe:2.3:a:qemu:qemu:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 2.6.2 Vulnerable ·QEMU
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* Versions 12.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* Versions 14.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:15.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 15.10 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 16.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:a:redhat:openstack:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:a:redhat:openstack:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:a:redhat:openstack:8:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:a:redhat:openstack:9:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
Show 16 more CPE
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:redhat:openstack:10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 10 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:a:redhat:openstack:11:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:7.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.4 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:7.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.5 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.6 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:7.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.7 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.4 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.6 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.7 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.6 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:7.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.7 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:a:redhat:virtualization:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 | Running on | Red Hat |
- cpe:2.3:a:redhat:openstack:10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:a:redhat:openstack:11:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:7.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.4 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:7.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.5 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:7.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.7 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.4 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.7 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:7.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.7 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:a:redhat:virtualization:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Running on ·Red Hat
Remediation
Red Hat 3 advisories
- RHSA-2017:2408 Released 2017-08-01 · Red Hat rating Moderateqemu-kvm-rhev security and bug fix update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux OpenStack Platform 6.0 (Juno) for RHEL 7 qemu-img-rhev-10:2.9.0-10.el7, qemu-kvm-common-rhev-10:2.9.0-10.el7, qemu-kvm-rhev-10:2.9.0-10.el7 +1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux OpenStack Platform 7.0 (Kilo) for RHEL 7 qemu-img-rhev-10:2.9.0-10.el7, qemu-kvm-common-rhev-10:2.9.0-10.el7, qemu-kvm-rhev-10:2.9.0-10.el7 +1
- Red Hat OpenStack Platform 10.0 qemu-img-rhev-10:2.9.0-10.el7, qemu-kvm-common-rhev-10:2.9.0-10.el7, qemu-kvm-rhev-10:2.9.0-10.el7 +1
- Red Hat OpenStack Platform 11.0 qemu-img-rhev-10:2.9.0-10.el7, qemu-kvm-common-rhev-10:2.9.0-10.el7, qemu-kvm-rhev-10:2.9.0-10.el7 +1
- Red Hat OpenStack Platform 8.0 (Liberty) qemu-img-rhev-10:2.9.0-10.el7, qemu-kvm-common-rhev-10:2.9.0-10.el7, qemu-kvm-rhev-10:2.9.0-10.el7 +1
- Red Hat OpenStack Platform 9.0 qemu-img-rhev-10:2.9.0-10.el7, qemu-kvm-common-rhev-10:2.9.0-10.el7, qemu-kvm-rhev-10:2.9.0-10.el7 +1
- RHSA-2017:2392 Released 2017-08-01 · Red Hat rating Importantqemu-kvm-rhev security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Virtualization 4 Management Agent for RHEL 7 Hosts qemu-img-rhev-10:2.9.0-14.el7, qemu-kvm-common-rhev-10:2.9.0-14.el7, qemu-kvm-rhev-10:2.9.0-14.el7 +1
- RHSA-2017:1856 Released 2017-08-01 · Red Hat rating Moderateqemu-kvm security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) qemu-img-10:1.5.3-141.el7, qemu-kvm-10:1.5.3-141.el7, qemu-kvm-common-10:1.5.3-141.el7 +1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) qemu-img-10:1.5.3-141.el7, qemu-kvm-10:1.5.3-141.el7, qemu-kvm-common-10:1.5.3-141.el7 +1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) qemu-img-10:1.5.3-141.el7, qemu-kvm-10:1.5.3-141.el7, qemu-kvm-common-10:1.5.3-141.el7 +1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) qemu-img-10:1.5.3-141.el7, qemu-kvm-10:1.5.3-141.el7, qemu-kvm-common-10:1.5.3-141.el7 +1
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux OpenStack Platform 5 (Icehouse) | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2017:1856 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2017:1856 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux OpenStack Platform 6.0 (Juno) for RHEL 7 | Fixed | RHSA-2017:2408 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux OpenStack Platform 7.0 (Kilo) for RHEL 7 | Fixed | RHSA-2017:2408 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2017:1856 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2017:1856 |
| Red Hat OpenStack Platform 10.0 | Fixed | RHSA-2017:2408 |
| Red Hat OpenStack Platform 11.0 | Fixed | RHSA-2017:2408 |
| Red Hat OpenStack Platform 8.0 (Liberty) | Fixed | RHSA-2017:2408 |
| Red Hat OpenStack Platform 9.0 | Fixed | RHSA-2017:2408 |
| Red Hat Virtualization 4 Management Agent for RHEL 7 Hosts | Fixed | RHSA-2017:2392 |
Not affected: 3 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat OpenStack Platform 12 (Pike)
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2016-4020
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-vcqr-cc8h-57gj
References
Patch 2
Advisory 7
Sources
- CVE-2016-4020 · CVE Program
- CVE-2016-4020 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-vcqr-cc8h-57gj · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2016-4020 · 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