kernel: xen: Privilege escalation on 64-bit Xen PV domains with IO port access privileges (XSA-171)
Published Apr 12, 2016
7.8
HIGHCVSS 3.0
EPSS 0.51%
Description
The __switch_to function in arch/x86/kernel/process_64.c in the Linux kernel does not properly context-switch IOPL on 64-bit PV Xen guests, which allows local guest OS users to gain privileges, cause a denial of service (guest OS crash), or obtain sensitive information by leveraging I/O port access.
Affected products
No data.
Configuration 2
- 12.04
No data.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
kernel
Will not fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
kernel
Affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
kernel
Will not fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
kernel-alt
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
kernel-rt
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
kernel
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2
kernel-rt
Not affected
| Product | Package | State | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | kernel | Will not fix | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | kernel | Affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | kernel | Will not fix | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | kernel-alt | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | kernel-rt | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | kernel | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2 | kernel-rt | Not affected | n/a |
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
No remediation recorded yet.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v3.1 score for this CVE.
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
1 other source (Red Hat) ▾
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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 | 0.51% (0.00513) | 41.52th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 0.51% (0.00513) | 39.38th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 0.13% (0.00129) | 29.78th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 0.06% (0.00064) | 30.08th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Jun 21, 2024 | 0.06% (0.00064) | 28.17th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 0.06% (0.00064) | 26.16th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 1.55% (0.01547) | 74.98th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 23, 2023 | 1.55% (0.01547) | 74.94th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | 1.55% (0.01547) | 72.92th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 1.55% (0.01547) | 51.82th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
References (18)
- http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3607 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_DEBIAN
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinapr2016-2952096.html x_refsource_CONFIRM
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/84594 vdb-entryx_refsource_BID
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035308 vdb-entryx_refsource_SECTRACK
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2968-1 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTU
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2968-2 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTU
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2969-1 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTU
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2970-1 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTU
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2971-1 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTU
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2971-2 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTU
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2971-3 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTU
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2996-1 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTU
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2997-1 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTU
- http://xenbits.xen.org/xsa/advisory-171.html x_refsource_CONFIRMPatchVendor Advisory
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2016-3157 Vendor Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1315711 Issue Tracking
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-3157
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-3157
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.