---
title: "CVE-2011-4622\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-2011-4622?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2011-4622

Publication date 27 January 2012

Last updated 4 July 2026

---

Ubuntu priority

**Low**

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

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## Description

The create\_pit\_timer function in arch/x86/kvm/i8254.c in KVM 83, and
possibly other versions, does not properly handle when Programmable
Interval Timer (PIT) interrupt requests (IRQs) when a virtual interrupt
controller (irqchip) is not available, which allows local users to cause a
denial of service (NULL pointer dereference) by starting a timer.
BUG: unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at
0000000000000128
IP: [<ffffffffa10f6280>] kvm\_set\_irq+0x30/0x170 [kvm]
...
Call Trace:
[<ffffffffa11228c1>] pit\_do\_work+0x51/0xd0 [kvm]
[<ffffffff81071431>] process\_one\_work+0x111/0x4d0
[<ffffffff81071bb2>] worker\_thread+0x152/0x340
[<ffffffff81075c8e>] kthread+0x7e/0x90
[<ffffffff815a4474>] kernel\_thread\_helper+0x4/0x10

### From the Ubuntu Security Team

A flaw was found in KVM's Programmable Interval Timer (PIT). When a virtual
interrupt control is not available a local user could use this to cause a
denial of service by starting a timer.

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| linux | 17.04 zesty | Not affected |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not affected |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |
| 15.10 wily | Not affected |
| 15.04 vivid | Not affected |
| 14.10 utopic | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not affected |
| 13.10 saucy | Not affected |
| 12.10 quantal | Not affected |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not affected |
| 11.10 oneiric | Fixed 3.0.0-16.27 |
| 11.04 natty | Fixed 2.6.38-13.55 |
| 10.10 maverick | Fixed 2.6.35-32.65 |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Fixed 2.6.32-39.86 |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not affected |
| linux-aws | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not affected |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| linux-ec2 | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.10 utopic | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Not in release |
| 12.10 quantal | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| 11.10 oneiric | Not in release |
| 11.04 natty | Not in release |
| 10.10 maverick | Ignored end of life |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Fixed 2.6.32-343.45 |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release |
| linux-flo | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not affected |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not affected |
| 15.04 vivid | Not affected |
| 14.10 utopic | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Not in release |
| 12.10 quantal | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| linux-fsl-imx51 | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.10 utopic | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Not in release |
| 12.10 quantal | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| 11.10 oneiric | Not in release |
| 11.04 natty | Not in release |
| 10.10 maverick | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not affected |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release |
| linux-gke | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| linux-goldfish | 17.04 zesty | Not affected |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not affected |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not affected |
| 15.04 vivid | Not affected |
| 14.10 utopic | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Ignored |
| 12.10 quantal | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| linux-grouper | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.10 utopic | Ignored end of life |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Ignored |
| 12.10 quantal | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| linux-hwe | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| linux-hwe-edge | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| linux-lts-backport-maverick | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.10 utopic | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Not in release |
| 12.10 quantal | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| 11.10 oneiric | Not in release |
| 11.04 natty | Not in release |
| 10.10 maverick | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Fixed 2.6.35-32.65~lucid1 |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release |
| linux-lts-backport-natty | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.10 utopic | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Not in release |
| 12.10 quantal | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| 11.10 oneiric | Not in release |
| 11.04 natty | Not in release |
| 10.10 maverick | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Fixed 2.6.38-13.55~lucid1 |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release |
| linux-lts-backport-oneiric | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.10 utopic | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Not in release |
| 12.10 quantal | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| 11.10 oneiric | Not in release |
| 11.04 natty | Not in release |
| 10.10 maverick | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Fixed 3.0.0-16.28~lucid1 |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release |
| linux-lts-trusty | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.10 utopic | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not affected |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| linux-lts-utopic | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.10 utopic | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| linux-lts-vivid | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.10 utopic | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| linux-lts-wily | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| linux-lts-xenial | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not affected |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| linux-maguro | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.10 utopic | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Ignored |
| 12.10 quantal | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| linux-mako | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not affected |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not affected |
| 15.04 vivid | Not affected |
| 14.10 utopic | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Ignored |
| 12.10 quantal | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| linux-manta | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not affected |
| 15.04 vivid | Not affected |
| 14.10 utopic | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Ignored |
| 12.10 quantal | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| linux-mvl-dove | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.10 utopic | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Not in release |
| 12.10 quantal | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| 11.10 oneiric | Not in release |
| 11.04 natty | Not in release |
| 10.10 maverick | Not affected |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not affected |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release |
| linux-raspi2 | 17.04 zesty | Not affected |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not affected |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |
| 15.10 wily | Not affected |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| linux-snapdragon | 17.04 zesty | Not affected |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not affected |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| linux-ti-omap4 | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.10 utopic | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Not affected |
| 12.10 quantal | Not affected |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not affected |
| 11.10 oneiric | Not affected |
| 11.04 natty | Not affected |
| 10.10 maverick | Not affected |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | 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-2011-4622?format=md#patch-details)

### 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 |
| --- | --- |
| linux | * Introduced by   [7837699](https://git.kernel.org/linus/7837699fa6d7adf81f26ab73a5f6897ea1ab9d6a),   fixed by   [0924ab2](https://git.kernel.org/linus/0924ab2cfa98b1ece26c033d696651fd62896c69) |

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2011-4622)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-4622)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2011-4622)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2011-4622)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-1362-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-1362-1)
+ Linux kernel vulnerabilities
+ 13 February 2012

+ [USN-1388-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-1388-1)
+ Linux kernel (EC2) vulnerabilities
+ 6 March 2012

+ [USN-1384-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-1384-1)
+ Linux kernel (Oneiric backport) vulnerabilities
+ 6 March 2012

+ [USN-1389-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-1389-1)
+ Linux kernel vulnerabilities
+ 6 March 2012

+ [USN-1387-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-1387-1)
+ Linux kernel (Maverick backport) vulnerabilities
+ 6 March 2012

+ [USN-1363-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-1363-1)
+ Linux kernel vulnerabilities
+ 13 February 2012

+ [USN-1361-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-1361-1)
+ Linux kernel vulnerabilities
+ 13 February 2012

+ [USN-1386-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-1386-1)
+ Linux kernel (Natty backport) vulnerabilities
+ 6 March 2012

### Other references

* <http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.comp.emulators.kvm.devel/83564>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2011-4622>
