# CVE-2015-7512: Memory corruption in n/a

> Remote attackers can cause guest OS crashes or execute arbitrary code via a buffer overflow in QEMU's pcnet network emulation.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.0 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 8 Jan 2016
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2015-7512, GHSA-4583-4mx5-3jcc, UBUNTU-CVE-2015-7512

## What is CVE-2015-7512?

CVE-2015-7512 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 8 Jan 2016. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Buffer overflow in the pcnet_receive function in hw/net/pcnet.c in QEMU, when a guest NIC has a larger MTU, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (guest OS crash) or execute arbitrary code via a large packet.

Weakness: CWE-120 (Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2015-7512?

It affects 9 products.


Products: Debian Debian Linux, Oracle Linux, Qemu Qemu, Redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop, Redhat Enterprise Linux Eus, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server, Redhat Enterprise Linux Workstation, Redhat Openstack, Redhat Virtualization.

## How do I fix CVE-2015-7512?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2015-7512 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2015-7512 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux

- [CVE-2015-3306](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-3306/): ProFTPD Improper Access Control (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-49113](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-49113/): RoundCube Webmail Deserialization of Untrusted Data (critical 9.9, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-24061](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-24061/): GNU InetUtils Argument Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-39682](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-39682/): Linux Kernel Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-9680](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-9680/): Mozilla Firefox Use-After-Free (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2015-7512 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2015-7512 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 8 Jan 2016. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2015-7512 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Debian Debian Linux. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-7512/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-7512/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2015-7512
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-7512
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2015-7512

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-7512/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.