---
title: "CVE-2017-15124\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-2017-15124?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2017-15124

Publication date 9 January 2018

Last updated 25 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Low**

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

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**7.5 · High**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2017-15124?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

VNC server implementation in Quick Emulator (QEMU) 2.11.0 and older was
found to be vulnerable to an unbounded memory allocation issue, as it did
not throttle the framebuffer updates sent to its client. If the client did
not consume these updates, VNC server allocates growing memory to hold onto
this data. A malicious remote VNC client could use this flaw to cause DoS
to the server host.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2017-15124?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| qemu | 17.10 artful | Fixed 1:2.10+dfsg-0ubuntu3.5 |
| 17.04 zesty | Ignored end of life |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Ignored |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Ignored |
| qemu-kvm | 17.10 artful | Not in release |
| 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | 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-2017-15124?format=md#patch-details)

## Notes

---

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

complex backport, not going to fix this in xenial and earlier

### 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://git.qemu.org/?p=qemu.git;a=commit;h=e2b72cb6e0443d90d7ab037858cb6834b6cca852> * Upstream:   <https://git.qemu.org/?p=qemu.git;a=commit;h=ada8d2e4369ea49677d8672ac81bce73eefd5b54> * Upstream:   <https://git.qemu.org/?p=qemu.git;a=commit;h=f887cf165db20f405cb8805c716bd363aaadf815> |

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

7.5 · High

* Base metrics

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

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 7.5 · High |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

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

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2017-15124)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-15124)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2017-15124)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2017-15124)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-3575-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-3575-1)
+ QEMU vulnerabilities
+ 20 February 2018

### Other references

* <http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/12/19/4>
* <https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/qemu-devel/2017-12/msg03715.html>
* <https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/qemu-devel/2017-12/msg03713.html>
* <https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/qemu-devel/2017-12/msg03711.html>
* <https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/qemu-devel/2017-12/msg03705.html>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-15124>