CVE-2016-4440 Privilege escalation in n/a
Guest OS users can escape to the host OS to execute arbitrary code or cause a crash via improper APICv state handling in KVM.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2016-4440?
CVE-2016-4440 is a high-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 27 Jun 2016. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
arch/x86/kvm/vmx.c in the Linux kernel through 4.6.3 mishandles the APICv on/off state, which allows guest OS users to obtain direct APIC MSR access on the host OS, and consequently cause a denial of service (host OS crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code on the host OS, via x2APIC mode.
Weakness: CWE-264
Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-4440?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2016-4440?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Is CVE-2016-4440 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-4440 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2016-4440, GHSA-862v-p357-9hfp.