CVE-2016-8630
Publication date 27 November 2016
Last updated 25 August 2025
Ubuntu priority
Cvss 3 Severity Score
Description
The x86_decode_insn function in arch/x86/kvm/emulate.c in the Linux kernel before 4.8.7, when KVM is enabled, allows local users to cause a denial of service (host OS crash) via a certain use of a ModR/M byte in an undefined instruction.
From the Ubuntu Security Team
It was discovered that the KVM implementation for x86/x86_64 in the Linux kernel could dereference a null pointer. An attacker in a guest virtual machine could use this to cause a denial of service (system crash) in the KVM host.
Status
| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status | 
|---|---|---|
| linux | ||
| 16.04 LTS xenial | 
                                Fixed 4.4.0-57.78 
                                
                               | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | 
                                Not affected 
                                
                               | |
| linux-armadaxp | ||
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | |
| linux-aws | ||
| 16.04 LTS xenial | 
                                Not affected 
                                
                               | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | 
                                Not affected 
                                
                               | |
| linux-azure | ||
| 16.04 LTS xenial | 
                                Not affected 
                                
                               | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | 
                                Not affected 
                                
                               | |
| linux-euclid | ||
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | |
| linux-flo | ||
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | |
| linux-gcp | ||
| 16.04 LTS xenial | 
                                Not affected 
                                
                               | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | |
| linux-gke | ||
| 16.04 LTS xenial | 
                                Not affected 
                                
                               | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | |
| linux-goldfish | ||
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | |
| linux-grouper | ||
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | |
| linux-hwe | ||
| 16.04 LTS xenial | 
                                Not affected 
                                
                               | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | |
| linux-hwe-edge | ||
| 16.04 LTS xenial | 
                                Not affected 
                                
                               | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | |
| linux-kvm | ||
| 16.04 LTS xenial | 
                                Not affected 
                                
                               | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | |
| linux-linaro-omap | ||
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | |
| linux-linaro-shared | ||
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | |
| linux-linaro-vexpress | ||
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | |
| linux-lts-quantal | ||
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | |
| linux-lts-raring | ||
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | |
| linux-lts-saucy | ||
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | |
| linux-lts-trusty | ||
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | |
| linux-lts-utopic | ||
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | |
| linux-lts-vivid | ||
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | |
| linux-lts-wily | ||
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | |
| linux-lts-xenial | ||
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | 
                                Fixed 4.4.0-57.78~14.04.1 
                                
                               | |
| linux-maguro | ||
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | |
| linux-mako | ||
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | |
| linux-manta | ||
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | |
| linux-oem | ||
| 16.04 LTS xenial | 
                                Not affected 
                                
                               | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | |
| linux-qcm-msm | ||
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | |
| linux-raspi2 | ||
| 16.04 LTS xenial | 
                                Fixed 4.4.0-1038.45 
                                
                               | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | |
| linux-snapdragon | ||
| 16.04 LTS xenial | 
                                Fixed 4.4.0-1042.46 
                                
                               | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | |
| linux-ti-omap4 | ||
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | |
Notes
jdstrand
android kernels (flo, goldfish, grouper, maguro, mako and manta) are not supported on the Ubuntu Touch 14.10 and earlier preview kernels linux-lts-saucy no longer receives official support linux-lts-quantal no longer receives official support
Severity score breakdown
| Parameter | Value | 
|---|---|
| Base score |  | 
| Attack vector | Local | 
| Attack complexity | Low | 
| Privileges required | Low | 
| User interaction | None | 
| Scope | Unchanged | 
| Confidentiality | None | 
| Integrity impact | None | 
| Availability impact | High | 
| Vector | CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H | 
References
Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)
- USN-3162-2
- Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi 2) vulnerabilities
- 20 December 2016
- USN-3162-1
- Linux kernel vulnerabilities
- 20 December 2016
- USN-3161-4
- Linux kernel (Qualcomm Snapdragon) vulnerabilities
- 20 December 2016
- USN-3161-1
- Linux kernel vulnerabilities
- 20 December 2016
- USN-3161-3
- Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi 2) vulnerabilities
- 20 December 2016
- USN-3161-2
- Linux kernel (Xenial HWE) vulnerabilities
- 20 December 2016