kernel: kvm: pit timer with no irqchip crashes the system
Published Jan 27, 2012
4.9
MEDIUMCVSS 2.0
EPSS 0.35%
Description
The create_pit_timer function in arch/x86/kvm/i8254.c in KVM 83, and possibly other versions, does not properly handle when Programmable Interval Timer (PIT) interrupt requests (IRQs) when a virtual interrupt controller (irqchip) is not available, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference) by starting a timer.
Affected products
No data.
No data.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
kvm-0:83-239.el5_7.1
Fixed · RHSA-2012:0051
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
kernel-0:2.6.32-220.7.1.el6
Fixed · RHSA-2012:0350
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4
kernel
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
kvm
Affected
Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2
realtime-kernel
Not affected
| Product | Package | State | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | kvm-0:83-239.el5_7.1 | Fixed | RHSA-2012:0051 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | kernel-0:2.6.32-220.7.1.el6 | Fixed | RHSA-2012:0350 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 | kernel | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | kvm | Affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2 | realtime-kernel | Not affected | n/a |
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
Red Hat statement
This issue did not affect the versions of Linux kernel as shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 and Red Hat Enterprise MRG as they did not provide support for the KVM subsystem. It has been addressed in Red Hat Enterprise 5 and 6 via https://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2012-0051.html and https://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2012-0350.html.
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:N/I:N/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 (11 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 0.35% (0.00347) | 25.85th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 0.36% (0.00360) | 27.62th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 0.05% (0.00050) | 12.73th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 0.04% (0.00042) | 5.07th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 0.04% (0.00042) | 5.63th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 1.10% (0.01104) | 54.09th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 13, 2023 | 1.10% (0.01104) | 53.53th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 3, 2023 | 1.28% (0.01282) | 67.60th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Sep 17, 2022 | 1.10% (0.01104) | 52.45th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | 1.10% (0.01104) | 50.41th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 1.10% (0.01104) | 28.85th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
No CWE recorded.
References (11)
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2012-05/msg00013.html vendor-advisoryx_refsource_SUSE
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2013-06/msg00005.html vendor-advisoryx_refsource_SUSE
- http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.comp.emulators.kvm.devel/83564 mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTPatch
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/12/21/7 mailing-listx_refsource_MLIST
- http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2012-0051.html vendor-advisoryx_refsource_REDHAT
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/51172 vdb-entryx_refsource_BID
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1026559 vdb-entryx_refsource_SECTRACK
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2011-4622 Vendor Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=769721 x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue Tracking
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-4622
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2011-4622
| Link | Providers | Tags |
|---|---|---|
| http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2012-05/msg00013.html | vendor-advisoryx_refsource_SUSE | |
| http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2013-06/msg00005.html | vendor-advisoryx_refsource_SUSE | |
| http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.comp.emulators.kvm.devel/83564 | mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTPatch | |
| http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/12/21/7 | mailing-listx_refsource_MLIST | |
| http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2012-0051.html | vendor-advisoryx_refsource_REDHAT | |
| http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/51172 | vdb-entryx_refsource_BID | |
| http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1026559 | vdb-entryx_refsource_SECTRACK | |
| https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2011-4622 | Vendor Advisory | |
| https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=769721 | x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue Tracking | |
| https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-4622 | ||
| https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2011-4622 |
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.