---
title: "CVE-2012-3516\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-2012-3516?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2012-3516

Publication date 23 November 2012

Last updated 24 July 2024

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

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

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## Description

The GNTTABOP\_swap\_grant\_ref sub-operation in the grant table hypercall in
Xen 4.2 and Citrix XenServer 6.0.2 allows local guest kernels or
administrators to cause a denial of service (host crash) and possibly gain
privileges via a crafted grant reference that triggers a write to an
arbitrary hypervisor memory location.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2012-3516?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| xen | 12.10 quantal | Not affected |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not affected |
| 11.10 oneiric | Not affected |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release |
| xen-3.1 | 12.10 quantal | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| 11.10 oneiric | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not affected |
| xen-3.2 | 12.10 quantal | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| 11.10 oneiric | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not affected |
| xen-3.3 | 12.10 quantal | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| 11.10 oneiric | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not affected |
| 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-2012-3516?format=md#patch-details)

## Notes

---

### [seth-arnold](https://launchpad.net/~seth-arnold)

Hypercall was added in 4.2
Warning: for raring, version '4.2.0-1ubuntu2' is in -proposed
is this version vulnerable or patched?

---

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

introduced by http://xenbits.xen.org/hg/xen-unstable.hg/rev/d115844ebfbb
fixed by http://xenbits.xen.org/hg/xen-unstable.hg/rev/93e5a791d076

### 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 |
| --- | --- |
| xen | * Upstream:   <http://xenbits.xen.org/hg/xen-unstable.hg/rev/93e5a791d076> |

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2012-3516)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-3516)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2012-3516)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2012-3516)

### Other references

* <http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/09/05/11>
* <http://wiki.xen.org/wiki/Security_Announcements#XSA-18_grant_table_entry_swaps_have_inadequate_bounds_checking>
* <http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX134708>
* <http://secunia.com/advisories/50530>
* <http://secunia.com/advisories/50472>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2012-3516>