kernel: KVM: x86: Disallow hypercalls for guest callers in rings > 0
Published Sep 22, 2009
7.2
HIGHCVSS 2.0
EPSS 0.40%
Description
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."
Affected products
No data.
- ≤ 2.6.30
- 2.6.25
No data.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
kvm-0:83-105.el5_4.7
Fixed · RHSA-2009:1465
| Product | Package | State | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | kvm-0:83-105.el5_4.7 | Fixed | RHSA-2009:1465 |
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
Red Hat statement
Red Hat is aware of this issue and is tracking it via the following bug: https://bugzilla.redhat.com/CVE-2009-3290 This issue did not affect the versions of Linux kernel as shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3, 4, and Red Hat Enterprise MRG as KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is only supported in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5. A future kernel update in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 will address this flaw.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v3.1 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v3.0 score for this CVE.
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
This CVE is not in the KEV list.
No CISA SSVC assessment for this CVE yet.
Estimated probability of exploitation in the wild in the next 30 days (FIRST EPSS). As of Oct 1, 2026.
Score over time
2022–2026- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Percentile over time
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Table of values (10 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 0.40% (0.00400) | 31.75th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 0.40% (0.00400) | 31.52th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 0.05% (0.00054) | 13.98th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 0.06% (0.00062) | 28.60th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Jun 13, 2024 | 0.06% (0.00062) | 26.61th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 0.06% (0.00062) | 24.59th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 1.28% (0.01282) | 68.34th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 22, 2023 | 1.28% (0.01282) | 68.05th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | 1.28% (0.01282) | 65.91th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 1.28% (0.01282) | 41.72th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
References (13)
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=07708c4af1346ab1521b26a202f438366b7bcffd x_refsource_CONFIRM
- http://patchwork.kernel.org/patch/38926/ x_refsource_CONFIRMPatch
- http://secunia.com/advisories/37105 third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAVendor Advisory
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/09/18/1 mailing-listx_refsource_MLIST
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/09/21/1 mailing-listx_refsource_MLIST
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/09/22/8 mailing-listx_refsource_MLIST
- http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2009-1465.html vendor-advisoryx_refsource_REDHATVendor Advisory
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-852-1 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTU
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2009-3290 Vendor Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=524124 x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue Tracking
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2009-3290
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A11328 vdb-entrysignaturex_refsource_OVAL
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2009-3290
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.