---
title: "CVE-2012-1601\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-2012-1601?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2012-1601

Publication date 29 March 2012

Last updated 4 July 2026

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

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

Toggle side navigation

## Description

The KVM implementation in the Linux kernel before 3.3.6 allows host OS
users to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and host OS
crash) by making a KVM\_CREATE\_IRQCHIP ioctl call after a virtual CPU
already exists.

### From the Ubuntu Security Team

A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's KVM (Kernel Virtual Machine) virtual
cpu setup. An unprivileged local user could exploit this flaw to crash the
system leading to a denial of service.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2012-1601?format=md#notes)

## 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 |
| 13.04 raring | Not affected |
| 12.10 quantal | Not affected |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Fixed 3.2.0-24.38 |
| 11.10 oneiric | Fixed 3.0.0-20.34 |
| 11.04 natty | Fixed 2.6.38-15.60 |
| 10.10 maverick | Ignored end of life |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Fixed 2.6.32-41.89 |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Fixed 2.6.24-32.103 |
| linux-armadaxp | 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 |
| 13.04 raring | Not in release |
| 12.10 quantal | Not affected |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Fixed 3.2.0-1603.6 |
| 11.10 oneiric | Not in release |
| 11.04 natty | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release |
| 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 |
| 13.04 raring | 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 2.6.32-345.48 |
| 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 |
| 13.04 raring | 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 | Ignored end of life |
| 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 |
| 13.04 raring | 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 | Ignored end of life |
| 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 |
| 13.04 raring | 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 2.6.38-15.60~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 |
| 13.04 raring | 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 3.0.0-20.34~lucid1 |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release |
| linux-lts-quantal | 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 |
| 13.04 raring | Not in release |
| 12.10 quantal | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not affected |
| 11.10 oneiric | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release |
| linux-lts-raring | 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 |
| 13.04 raring | Not in release |
| 12.10 quantal | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not affected |
| 11.10 oneiric | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| 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 |
| 13.04 raring | 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 | Ignored end of life |
| 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 |
| 13.04 raring | Not affected |
| 12.10 quantal | Not affected |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Fixed 3.2.0-1413.17 |
| 11.10 oneiric | Fixed 3.0.0-1210.22 |
| 11.04 natty | Not affected |
| 10.10 maverick | Ignored end of life |
| 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-2012-1601?format=md#patch-details)

## Notes

---

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

sha1 below is from the KVM tree, though it is likely to be the right one
when it hits upstream. Patch title is:
KVM: Ensure all vcpus are consistent with in-kernel irqchip settings
now arrived in linus' tree as the sha1 below

### 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   [1da177e](https://git.kernel.org/linus/1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2),   fixed by   [3e51570](https://git.kernel.org/linus/3e515705a1f46beb1c942bb8043c16f8ac7b1e9e) |

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2012-1601)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-1601)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2012-1601)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2012-1601)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-1453-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-1453-1)
+ Linux kernel (EC2) vulnerabilities
+ 25 May 2012

+ [USN-1457-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-1457-1)
+ Linux kernel vulnerabilities
+ 31 May 2012

+ [USN-1452-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-1452-1)
+ Linux kernel vulnerabilities
+ 25 May 2012

+ [USN-1470-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-1470-1)
+ Linux kernel (Natty backport) vulnerabilities
+ 12 June 2012

+ [USN-1448-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-1448-1)
+ Linux kernel vulnerabilities
+ 21 May 2012

+ [USN-1459-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-1459-1)
+ Linux kernel (OMAP4) vulnerabilities
+ 31 May 2012

+ [USN-1460-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-1460-1)
+ Linux kernel (OMAP4) vulnerabilities
+ 31 May 2012

+ [USN-1507-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-1507-1)
+ Linux kernel vulnerabilities
+ 17 July 2012

+ [USN-1455-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-1455-1)
+ Linux kernel (Oneiric backport) vulnerabilities
+ 30 May 2012

+ [USN-1445-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-1445-1)
+ Linux kernel vulnerabilities
+ 18 May 2012

### Other references

* <http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/03/29>
* <http://comments.gmane.org/gmane.comp.emulators.kvm.devel/86217>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2012-1601>
