---
title: "CVE-2009-3616\n    | Ubuntu"
description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the
  desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.
url: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2009-3616?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2009-3616

Publication date 23 October 2009

Last updated 25 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**High**

[Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority )

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**9.9 · Critical**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2009-3616?format=md#impact-score)

Toggle side navigation

## Description

Multiple use-after-free vulnerabilities in vnc.c in the VNC server in QEMU
0.10.6 and earlier might allow guest OS users to execute arbitrary code on
the host OS by establishing a connection from a VNC client and then (1)
disconnecting during data transfer, (2) sending a message using incorrect
integer data types, or (3) using the Fuzzy Screen Mode protocol, related to
double free vulnerabilities.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2009-3616?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| kvm | 10.10 maverick | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| 9.10 karmic | Not in release |
| 9.04 jaunty | Not affected |
| 8.10 intrepid | Not affected |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not affected |
| 6.06 LTS dapper | Not in release |
| qemu | 10.10 maverick | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| 9.10 karmic | Not in release |
| 9.04 jaunty | Ignored end of life |
| 8.10 intrepid | Not affected |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not affected |
| 6.06 LTS dapper | Not affected |
| qemu-kvm | 10.10 maverick | Not affected |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not affected |
| 9.10 karmic | Not affected |
| 9.04 jaunty | Not in release |
| 8.10 intrepid | Not in release |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release |
| 6.06 LTS dapper | Not in release |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)
* [Patch details](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2009-3616?format=md#patch-details)

## Notes

---

### [jdstrand](https://launchpad.net/~jdstrand)

versions 0.9.1 and earlier are not affected. Need the following
commit to be affected:
http://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/qemu.git/commit/?id=753b405331. This came in
0.10.0 (from ChangeLog: 'Multiple VNC clients are now supported')
kvm-84 as included in Ubuntu 9.04 does not contain the affected
code (it has a pre-release version of qemu 0.10.0)
kvm-84 in hardy-backports and intrepid-backports are not affected
(they are based on kvm-84 from Ubuntu 9.04)
simply search for VncDisplay in vnc.c to see if might be affected

### Patch details

For informational purposes only. We recommend not to cherry-pick updates. [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)

| Package | Patch details |
| --- | --- |
| qemu | * Upstream:   [?h=stab](http://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/qemu.git/commit/?h=stable-0.10&id=c2723a9606) |
| qemu-kvm | * Vendor:   [?id=198](http://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/qemu.git/commit/?id=198a0039c5) |

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

9.9 · Critical

* Base metrics

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Attack vector | Network |
  | Attack complexity | Low |
  | Privileges required | Low |
  | User interaction | None |
  | Scope | Changed |
  | Confidentiality impact | High |
  | Integrity impact | High |
  | Availability impact | High |
* Scores

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 9.9 · Critical |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

**Vector:** CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2009-3616)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2009-3616)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2009-3616)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2009-3616)

### Other references

* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2009-3616>