---
title: "CVE-2016-1981\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-2016-1981?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2016-1981

Publication date 22 January 2016

Last updated 25 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

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

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**5.5 · Medium**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-1981?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

QEMU (aka Quick Emulator) built with the e1000 NIC emulation support is
vulnerable to an infinite loop issue. It could occur while processing data
via transmit or receive descriptors, provided the initial receive/transmit
descriptor head (TDH/RDH) is set outside the allocated descriptor buffer. A
privileged user inside guest could use this flaw to crash the QEMU instance
resulting in DoS.

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| qemu | 15.10 wily | Fixed 1:2.3+dfsg-5ubuntu9.2 |
| 15.04 vivid | Ignored end of life |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Fixed 2.0.0+dfsg-2ubuntu1.22 |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| qemu-kvm | 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Fixed 1.0+noroms-0ubuntu14.27 |

---

* [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-2016-1981?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 |
| --- | --- |
| qemu | * Upstream:   <https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/qemu-devel/2016-01/msg03454.html> |

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

5.5 · Medium

* Base metrics

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

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 5.5 · Medium |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

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

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-1981)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-1981)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2016-1981)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-1981)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-2891-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-2891-1)
+ QEMU vulnerabilities
+ 3 February 2016

### Other references

* <http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/01/19/10>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-1981>