The x86-64 kernel system-call functionality in Xen 4.1.2 and earlier, as used in Citrix XenServer 6.0.2 and earlier and other products; Orac
The x86-64 kernel system-call functionality in Xen 4.1.2 and earlier, as used in Citrix XenServer 6.0.2 and earlier and other products; Oracle Solaris 11 and earlier; illumos before r13724; Joyent SmartOS before 20120614T184600Z; FreeBSD before 9.0-RELEASE-p3; NetBSD 6.0 Beta and earlier; Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 and R2 SP1 and Windows 7 Gold and SP1; and possibly other operating systems, when running on an Intel processor, incorrectly uses the sysret path in cases where a certain address is not a canonical address, which allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted application. NOTE: because this issue is due to incorrect use of the Intel specification, it should have been split into separate identifiers; however, there was some value in preserving the original mapping of the multi-codebase coordinated-disclosure effort to a single identifier.
- Published
- Jun 12, 2012
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 39.8% · 99th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-119
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Report tools
Action score
40
Plan
Add it to your regular patch cycle.
- CVSS
- 28 / 40 · 7.2 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 12 / 30 · 39.8%
Affected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| xen | xen | cpe:2.3:o:xen:xen |
| freebsd | freebsd | cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd |
| illumos | illumos | cpe:2.3:o:illumos:illumos |
| joyent | smartos | cpe:2.3:o:joyent:smartos |
| microsoft | windows 7 | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_7 |
| microsoft | windows server 2003 | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2003 |
| microsoft | windows server 2008 | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2008 |
| microsoft | windows xp | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_xp |
| citrix | xenserver | cpe:2.3:a:citrix:xenserver |
| netbsd | netbsd | cpe:2.3:o:netbsd:netbsd |
| sun | sunos | cpe:2.3:o:sun:sunos |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- microsoft windows server 2003all versions
- microsoft windows server 2008r2
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | xen | before 4.1.3~rc1+hg-20120614.a9c0a89c08f2-1 | 4.1.3~rc1+hg-20120614.a9c0a89c08f2-1 |
| Debian:6.0 | kfreebsd-8 | before 8.1+dfsg-8+squeeze3 | 8.1+dfsg-8+squeeze3 |
| Debian:6.0 | xen | before 4.0.1-5.2 | 4.0.1-5.2 |
| openSUSE:Tumbleweed | xen | before 4.7.0_12-1.3 | 4.7.0_12-1.3 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | kernel | before 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 | 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | kernel-debug | before 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 | 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | kernel-debug-debuginfo | before 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 | 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | kernel-debug-devel | before 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 | 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | kernel-debuginfo | before 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 | 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | kernel-debuginfo-common | before 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 | 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | kernel-devel | before 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 | 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | kernel-doc | before 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 | 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | kernel-headers | before 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 | 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | kernel-PAE | before 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 | 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | kernel-PAE-debuginfo | before 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 | 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | kernel-PAE-devel | before 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 | 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | kernel-xen | before 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 | 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | kernel-xen-debuginfo | before 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 | 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | kernel-xen-devel | before 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 | 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | kernel-kdump | before 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 | 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | kernel-kdump-debuginfo | before 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 | 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | kernel-kdump-devel | before 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 | 0:2.6.18-308.8.2.el5 |
| Red Hat:rhel_eus:5.6 | kernel | before 0:2.6.18-238.39.1.el5 | 0:2.6.18-238.39.1.el5 |
| Red Hat:rhel_eus:5.6 | kernel-debug | before 0:2.6.18-238.39.1.el5 | 0:2.6.18-238.39.1.el5 |
+16
Same product
xen: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2017-10921The grant-table feature in Xen through 4.8.x does not ensure sufficient type counts for a GNTMAP_device_map and GNTMAP_host_map mapping, whi41Plan
- CVE-2017-10920The grant-table feature in Xen through 4.8.x mishandles a GNTMAP_device_map and GNTMAP_host_map mapping, when followed by only a GNTMAP_host41Plan
- CVE-2017-10918Xen through 4.8.x does not validate memory allocations during certain P2M operations, which allows guest OS users to obtain privileged host 41Plan
- CVE-2017-10912Xen through 4.8.x mishandles page transfer, which allows guest OS users to obtain privileged host OS access, aka XSA-217.41Plan
- CVE-2015-8104The KVM subsystem in the Linux kernel through 4.2.6, and Xen 4.3.x through 4.6.x, allows guest OS users to cause a denial of service (host O41Plan
- CVE-2015-5165The C+ mode offload emulation in the RTL8139 network card device model in QEMU, as used in Xen 4.5.x and earlier, allows remote attackers to41Plan
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| debian:kfreebsd-8 | 8.1+dfsg-8+squeeze3 · Debian:6.0 | Package registry (OSV) |
| debian:xen | 4.1.3~rc1+hg-20120614.a9c0a89c08f2-1 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:xen | 4.7.0_12-1.3 · openSUSE:Tumbleweed | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel | 0:2.6.18-238.39.1.el5 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:5.6 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel-debug | 0:2.6.18-238.39.1.el5 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:5.6 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel-debug-debuginfo | 0:2.6.18-238.39.1.el5 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:5.6 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel-debug-devel | 0:2.6.18-238.39.1.el5 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:5.6 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel-debuginfo | 0:2.6.18-238.39.1.el5 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:5.6 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel-debuginfo-common | 0:2.6.18-238.39.1.el5 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:5.6 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel-devel | 0:2.6.18-238.39.1.el5 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:5.6 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel-doc | 0:2.6.18-238.39.1.el5 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:5.6 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel-headers | 0:2.6.18-238.39.1.el5 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:5.6 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel-PAE | 0:2.6.18-238.39.1.el5 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:5.6 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel-PAE-debuginfo | 0:2.6.18-238.39.1.el5 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:5.6 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel-PAE-devel | 0:2.6.18-238.39.1.el5 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:5.6 | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
Weaponized
A ready exploit tool or active in-the-wild use is known for this vulnerability. This should be your top priority.
Evidence
- Metasploit module ×1
- Exploit-DB entry ×4
Noroxi does not host or link to exploit code. Metasploit module names and Nuclei template ids are shown (names, not code); Exploit-DB entries and PoC repositories are given as counts only.
| Source | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Exploit-DB entry | local | 2013-10-04 |
| Exploit-DB entry | local | 2019-03-07 |
| Exploit-DB entry | local | 2019-03-07 |
| Exploit-DB entry | local | 2012-08-27 |
| Metasploit module | exploit/freebsd/local/intel_sysret_priv_escFreeBSD Intel SYSRET Privilege Escalationexploit | 2012-06-12 |
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
- Metasploit-1 d
- Published
- First PoC+75 d
- TodaySep 30, 2026+5223 d
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
No commit or PR link among the references.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- C · data can be read
- Integrity
- C · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- C · the service can be disrupted
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Confidentiality impact
- C
- Integrity impact
- C
- Availability impact
- C
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-119 · Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory BufferCVSS vector
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
- Buffer Overflow via Environment VariablesCAPEC-10likelihood: High · High
- Overflow BuffersCAPEC-100likelihood: High · Very High
- Buffer ManipulationCAPEC-123likelihood: High · Very High
- Client-side Injection-induced Buffer OverflowCAPEC-14likelihood: Medium · High
- Filter Failure through Buffer OverflowCAPEC-24likelihood: High · High
- MIME ConversionCAPEC-42likelihood: High · High
- Overflow Binary Resource FileCAPEC-44likelihood: High · Very High
- Buffer Overflow via Symbolic LinksCAPEC-45likelihood: High · High
ATT&CK techniques
—
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for all 385,000+ vulnerabilities; that wouldn't be honest. For notable, high-impact vulnerabilities our team writes the mechanism, detection and remediation steps.
We use this product, ask for helpChange log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- blog.illumos.org/2012/06/14/illumos-vulnerability-patched/
- blog.xen.org/index.php/2012/06/13/the-intel-sysret-privilege-escalation/
- ftp.netbsd.org/pub/NetBSD/security/advisories/NetBSD-SA2012-003.txt.asc
- lists.xen.org/archives/html/xen-announce/2012-06/msg00001.html
- lists.xen.org/archives/html/xen-devel/2012-06/msg01072.html
- secunia.com/advisories/55082
- security.freebsd.org/advisories/FreeBSD-SA-12:04.sysret.asc
- security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-201309-24.xml
- smartos.org/2012/06/15/smartos-news-3/
- support.citrix.com/article/CTX133161
- wiki.smartos.org/display/DOC/SmartOS+Change+Log#SmartOSChangeLog-June14%2C2012
- www.debian.org/security/2012/dsa-2501
- www.debian.org/security/2012/dsa-2508
- www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/649219
- www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2013:150
- www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/cpuoct2012-1515893.html
- www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA12-164A.html
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=813428
- docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2012/ms12-042
- oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A15596
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.