---
title: "CVE-2016-5242\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-2016-5242?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2016-5242

Publication date 7 June 2016

Last updated 25 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

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

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**5.6 · Medium**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-5242?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

The p2m\_teardown function in arch/arm/p2m.c in Xen 4.4.x through 4.6.x
allows local guest OS users with access to the driver domain to cause a
denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and host OS crash) by creating
concurrent domains and holding references to them, related to VMID
exhaustion.

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| xen | 16.04 LTS xenial | Fixed 4.6.0-1ubuntu4.1 |
| 15.10 wily | Fixed 4.5.1-0ubuntu1.4 |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Fixed 4.4.2-0ubuntu0.14.04.6 |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not affected |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

5.6 · Medium

* Base metrics

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

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 5.6 · Medium |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

**Vector:** CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-5242)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-5242)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2016-5242)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-5242)

### Other references

* <http://xenbits.xen.org/xsa/advisory-181.html>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-5242>