// For flags

CVE-2016-5412

Kernel: powerpc: kvm: Infinite loop via H_CEDE hypercall when running under hypervisor-mode

Severity Score

6.5
*CVSS v3

Exploit Likelihood

*EPSS

Affected Versions

*CPE

Public Exploits

0
*Multiple Sources

Exploited in Wild

-
*KEV

Decision

-
*SSVC
Descriptions

arch/powerpc/kvm/book3s_hv_rmhandlers.S in the Linux kernel through 4.7 on PowerPC platforms, when CONFIG_KVM_BOOK3S_64_HV is enabled, allows guest OS users to cause a denial of service (host OS infinite loop) by making a H_CEDE hypercall during the existence of a suspended transaction.

arch/powerpc/kvm/book3s_hv_rmhandlers.S en el kernel de Linux hasta la versión 4.7 en plataformas PowerPC, cuando se encuentra habilitada CONFIG_KVM_BOOK3S_64_HV, permite a usuarios invitados del SO provocar una denegación de servicio (bucle infinito del SO anfitrión) haciendo una hiperllamada H_CEDE durante la existencia de una transacción suspendida.

Pengfei Wang discovered a race condition in the audit subsystem in the Linux kernel. A local attacker could use this to corrupt audit logs or disrupt system-call auditing. It was discovered that the powerpc and powerpc64 hypervisor-mode KVM implementation in the Linux kernel for did not properly maintain state about transactional memory. An unprivileged attacker in a guest could cause a denial of service in the host OS. Various other issues were also addressed.

*Credits: N/A
CVSS Scores
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Changed
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
High
Attack Vector
Adjacent
Attack Complexity
High
Privileges Required
High
User Interaction
None
Scope
Changed
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
High
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Authentication
Single
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
Complete
Attack Vector
Adjacent
Attack Complexity
High
Authentication
Single
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
Complete
* Common Vulnerability Scoring System
SSVC
  • Decision:-
Exploitation
-
Automatable
-
Tech. Impact
-
* Organization's Worst-case Scenario
Timeline
  • 2016-06-10 CVE Reserved
  • 2016-08-06 CVE Published
  • 2024-08-06 CVE Updated
  • 2025-03-30 EPSS Updated
  • ---------- Exploited in Wild
  • ---------- KEV Due Date
  • ---------- First Exploit
CWE
  • CWE-399: Resource Management Errors
  • CWE-835: Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop')
CAPEC
Affected Vendors, Products, and Versions
Vendor Product Version Other Status
Vendor Product Version Other Status <-- --> Vendor Product Version Other Status
Linux
Search vendor "Linux"
Linux Kernel
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel"
<= 4.7
Search vendor "Linux" for product "Linux Kernel" and version " <= 4.7"
-
Affected