---
title: "CVE-2016-5403\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-2016-5403?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2016-5403

Publication date 2 August 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-2016-5403?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

The virtqueue\_pop function in hw/virtio/virtio.c in QEMU allows local guest
OS administrators to cause a denial of service (memory consumption and QEMU
process crash) by submitting requests without waiting for completion.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-5403?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| qemu | 16.10 yakkety | Fixed 1:2.6.1+dfsg-0ubuntu5.1 |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Fixed 1:2.5+dfsg-5ubuntu10.6 |
| 15.10 wily | Ignored end of life |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Fixed 2.0.0+dfsg-2ubuntu1.30 |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| qemu-kvm | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Fixed 1.0+noroms-0ubuntu14.31 |
| xen | 16.10 yakkety | Not affected |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |
| 15.10 wily | Ignored end of life |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Fixed 4.4.2-0ubuntu0.14.04.7 |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Fixed 4.1.6.1-0ubuntu0.12.04.12 |

---

* [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-2016-5403?format=md#patch-details)

## Notes

---

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

the patch for this CVE introduced a regression and was later
reverted pending investigation. See LP: #1612089.
proposed regression fixes:
http://lists.nongnu.org/archive/html/qemu-devel/2016-08/msg01038.html
http://lists.nongnu.org/archive/html/qemu-devel/2016-08/msg02666.html

### 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:   <http://git.qemu.org/?p=qemu.git;a=commit;h=afd9096eb1882f23929f5b5c177898ed231bac66> * Upstream:   <http://git.qemu.org/?p=qemu.git;a=commit;h=bccdef6b1a204db0f41ffb6e24ce373e4d7890d4> * Upstream:   <http://git.qemu.org/?p=qemu.git;a=commit;h=58a83c61496eeb0d31571a07a51bc1947e3379ac> * Upstream:   <http://git.qemu.org/?p=qemu.git;a=commit;h=4b7f91ed0270a371e1933efa21ba600b6da23ab9> * Upstream:   <http://git.qemu.org/?p=qemu.git;a=commit;h=104e70cae78bd4afd95d948c6aff188f10508a9c> |

## 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-2016-5403)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-5403)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2016-5403)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-5403)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-3125-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-3125-1)
+ QEMU vulnerabilities
+ 9 November 2016

+ [USN-3047-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-3047-1)
+ QEMU vulnerabilities
+ 4 August 2016

### Other references

* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-5403>