CVE-2018-12617Qemu Integer Overflow
qmp_guest_file_read in qga/commands-posix.c and qga/commands-win32.c in qemu-ga (aka QEMU Guest Agent) in QEMU 2.12.50 has an integer overflow causing a g_malloc0() call to trigger a segmentation fault when trying to allocate a large memory chunk.
Published Jun 21, 2018 · Updated Aug 4, 2026 · Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2018-12617, DLA-1694-1, SUSE-SU-2018:2679-1, UBUNTU-CVE-2018-12617
Key Facts
Patch immediately- CVE-2018-12617 is a high-severity vulnerability (CVSS 7.5 v3.1) affecting Qemu, Ubuntu Linux (Canonical), Debian Linux and 22 more products.
- It is not listed in any known-exploited vulnerabilities catalog. A public exploit is reported by tracking sources, but no code link is listed yet.
- EPSS estimates a 25% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- Fixed versions are available, including ivshmem-tools 15:3.0.0-1.el7, ivshmem-tools 15:3.1.0-1.el7, kvm 1.4.2-53.23.2.
- Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because public exploit code exists for a high-severity flaw.
Scores
CVSS v3.1
7.5
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)
25%
Higher than 97.9% of all scored CVEs
Exploit maturity
Proof of concept
ATLAS score
49/100
Publication score, see How it works
Exploitation Verdict
KEV listed
Not listed
Federal due date
None
No federal due date
Ransomware use
Not reported
Attributed actors
None named
Exploit & Defence Guidance
Exploit maturity
Proof of concept
Public exploit code
3
Proof-of-concept links
In-the-wild evidence
0
Reports of active use
Advisories And Exploit References
Description
qmp_guest_file_read in qga/commands-posix.c and qga/commands-win32.c in qemu-ga (aka QEMU Guest Agent) in QEMU 2.12.50 has an integer overflow causing a g_malloc0() call to trigger a segmentation fault when trying to allocate a large memory chunk. The vulnerability can be exploited by sending a crafted QMP command (including guest-file-read with a large count value) to the agent via the listening socket.
Affected Products
331 affected entries in total| Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| QemuQemu | See advisory | 2.12.50 |
| Ubuntu LinuxCanonical | 14.04, 16.04, 18.04, 18.10 | n/a |
| Debian LinuxDebian | 8.0, 9.0 | n/a |
| ivshmem-toolsoracle | See advisory | 15:3.1.0-1.el7 |
| qemu-block-glusteroracle | See advisory | 15:3.1.0-1.el7 |
Patched Releases
ivshmem-tools
15:3.0.0-1.el7, 15:3.1.0-1.el7
kvm
1.4.2-53.23.2, 1.4.2-60.15.2
Qemu
1:2.1+dfsg-12+deb8u10, 1:2.11+dfsg-1ubuntu7.8, 1:2.5+dfsg-5ubuntu10.33, 1:2.8+dfsg-6+deb9u6, 1:3.1+dfsg-1, 12:2.9.0-17.el7, 15:3.0.0-1.el7, 15:3.1.0-1.el7, 2.0.0+dfsg-2ubuntu1.44, 2.0.2-48.43.3, 2.11.2-9.9.1, 2.11.2-lp150.7.9.1, 2.3.1-33.12.1, 2.6.2-41.43.3, 2.9.1-47.1, 2.9.1-6.19.11, <=2.12.50
qemu-arm
2.11.2-9.9.1, 2.11.2-lp150.7.9.1, 2.9.1-47.1, 2.9.1-6.19.11
qemu-block-curl
2.0.2-48.43.3, 2.11.2-9.9.1, 2.11.2-lp150.7.9.1, 2.3.1-33.12.1, 2.6.2-41.43.3, 2.9.1-47.1, 2.9.1-6.19.11
qemu-block-dmg
2.11.2-lp150.7.9.1, 2.9.1-47.1
qemu-block-gluster
12:2.9.0-17.el7, 15:3.0.0-1.el7, 15:3.1.0-1.el7, 2.11.2-lp150.7.9.1
qemu-block-iscsi
12:2.9.0-17.el7, 15:3.0.0-1.el7, 15:3.1.0-1.el7, 2.11.2-9.9.1, 2.11.2-lp150.7.9.1, 2.9.1-47.1, 2.9.1-6.19.11
qemu-block-rbd
12:2.9.0-17.el7, 15:3.0.0-1.el7, 15:3.1.0-1.el7, 2.0.2-48.43.3, 2.11.2-9.9.1, 2.11.2-lp150.7.9.1, 2.3.1-33.12.1, 2.6.2-41.43.3, 2.9.1-47.1, 2.9.1-6.19.11
qemu-block-ssh
2.11.2-9.9.1, 2.11.2-lp150.7.9.1, 2.6.2-41.43.3, 2.9.1-47.1, 2.9.1-6.19.11
qemu-common
12:2.9.0-17.el7, 15:3.0.0-1.el7, 15:3.1.0-1.el7
qemu-extra
2.11.2-lp150.7.9.1, 2.9.1-47.1
qemu-guest-agent
2.0.2-48.43.3, 2.11.2-9.9.1, 2.11.2-lp150.7.9.1, 2.3.1-33.12.1, 2.6.2-41.43.3, 2.9.1-47.1, 2.9.1-6.19.11
qemu-img
12:2.9.0-17.el7, 15:3.0.0-1.el7, 15:3.1.0-1.el7
qemu-ipxe
1.0.0-33.12.1, 1.0.0-41.43.3, 1.0.0-47.1, 1.0.0-48.43.3, 1.0.0-6.19.11, 1.0.0-9.9.1, 1.0.0-lp150.7.9.1
qemu-ksm
2.11.2-lp150.7.9.1, 2.9.1-47.1
qemu-kvm
12:2.9.0-17.el7, 15:3.0.0-1.el7, 15:3.1.0-1.el7, 2.0.2-48.43.3, 2.11.2-9.9.1, 2.11.2-lp150.7.9.1, 2.3.1-33.12.1, 2.6.2-41.43.3, 2.9.1-47.1, 2.9.1-6.19.11
qemu-kvm-core
12:2.9.0-17.el7, 15:3.0.0-1.el7, 15:3.1.0-1.el7
qemu-lang
2.0.2-48.43.3, 2.11.2-9.9.1, 2.11.2-lp150.7.9.1, 2.3.1-33.12.1, 2.6.2-41.43.3, 2.9.1-47.1, 2.9.1-6.19.11
qemu-linux-user
2.11.2-lp150.7.9.1, 2.9.1-47.1
qemu-ppc
2.0.2-48.43.3, 2.11.2-9.9.1, 2.11.2-lp150.7.9.1, 2.3.1-33.12.1, 2.6.2-41.43.3, 2.9.1-47.1, 2.9.1-6.19.11
qemu-s390
2.0.2-48.43.3, 2.11.2-9.9.1, 2.11.2-lp150.7.9.1, 2.3.1-33.12.1, 2.6.2-41.43.3, 2.9.1-47.1, 2.9.1-6.19.11
qemu-seabios
1.10.2-47.1, 1.10.2-6.19.11, 1.11.0-9.9.1, 1.11.0-lp150.7.9.1, 1.7.4-48.43.3, 1.8.1-33.12.1, 1.9.1-41.43.3
qemu-sgabios
8-33.12.1, 8-41.43.3, 8-47.1, 8-48.43.3, 8-6.19.11, 8-9.9.1, 8-lp150.7.9.1
qemu-system-aarch64
15:3.0.0-1.el7, 15:3.1.0-1.el7
Timeline
Publicly disclosed
Jun 21, 2018
Last updated
Aug 4, 2026
Weakness Type
- CWE-190 Integer Overflow or Wraparound
References
- advisorysecurity-tracker.debian.org · CVE-2018-12617
- advisoryubuntu.com · CVE-2018-12617
- advisorycve.org · CVERecord
- advisorybugzilla.suse.com · 1020928
- advisorybugzilla.suse.com · 1027519
FAQ
Common Questions.
qmp_guest_file_read in qga/commands-posix.c and qga/commands-win32.c in qemu-ga (aka QEMU Guest Agent) in QEMU 2.12.50 has an integer overflow causing a g_malloc0() call to trigger a segmentation fault when trying to allocate a large memory chunk.
Affected: Qemu; Ubuntu Linux (Canonical) versions 14.04, 16.04, 18.04, 18.10; Debian Linux versions 8.0, 9.0, among others. The full list is in the CVE brief.
It is not listed in any known-exploited vulnerabilities catalog.
No, it is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
A public exploit is reported by tracking sources, but no code link is listed yet.
Fixed versions are available, including ivshmem-tools 15:3.0.0-1.el7, ivshmem-tools 15:3.1.0-1.el7, kvm 1.4.2-53.23.2.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because public exploit code exists for a high-severity flaw.
Is CVE-2018-12617 On Your Attack Surface?
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