# CVE-2017-7980: Memory corruption in n/a

> Local guest users can execute arbitrary code or crash the system via a heap buffer overflow in the QEMU Cirrus VGA emulator.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **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:** Yes
- **Published:** 25 Jul 2017
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2017-7980, GHSA-w847-jx6c-6j35, UBUNTU-CVE-2017-7980

## What is CVE-2017-7980?

CVE-2017-7980 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 25 Jul 2017. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Heap-based buffer overflow in Cirrus CLGD 54xx VGA Emulator in Quick Emulator (Qemu) 2.8 and earlier allows local guest OS users to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (crash) via vectors related to a VNC client updating its display after a VGA operation.

Weakness: CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-7980?

It affects 11 products.


Products: Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Debian Debian Linux, Qemu Qemu, Redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server Aus, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server Eus, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server Tus, Redhat Enterprise Linux Workstation, Redhat Openstack, Redhat Virtualization.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-7980?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2017-7980 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-7980 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Canonical Ubuntu Linux

- [CVE-2020-11651](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11651/): SaltStack Salt Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-7247](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7247/): OpenSMTPD Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-16928](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16928/): Exim Out-of-bounds Write (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2018-6789](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6789/): Exim Buffer Overflow (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2015-2590](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-2590/): Oracle Java SE and Java SE Embedded Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-7980 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-7980 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 25 Jul 2017. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-7980 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Canonical Ubuntu 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-2017-7980/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-7980/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-7980
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-7980
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-7980

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-7980/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.