CVE-2016-9777

Name: CVE-2016-9777
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2016-12-28T07:59:00.51+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

HIGHCVSS 7.8/10EPSS 0.38%

Last modified Jun 17, 2026

CVE-2016-9777 is a high-severity vulnerability rated 7.8/10 on the CVSS scale. KVM in the Linux kernel before 4.8.12, when I/O APIC is enabled, does not properly restrict the VCPU index, which allows guest OS users to gain host OS privileges or cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds array access and host OS crash) via a crafted interrupt request, related to arch/x86/kvm/ioapic.c and arch/x86/kvm/ioapic.h.. EPSS estimates a 0.38% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

KVM in the Linux kernel before 4.8.12, when I/O APIC is enabled, does not properly restrict the VCPU index, which allows guest OS users to gain host OS privileges or cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds array access and host OS crash) via a crafted interrupt request, related to arch/x86/kvm/ioapic.c and arch/x86/kvm/ioapic.h.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

7.8/10

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

EPSS Probability

0.38%

29.8th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-125

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 4.8, < 4.8.12

References

http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=81cdb259fb6d8c1c4ecfeea389ff5a73c07f5755Patch, Vendor Advisory
http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.8.12Release Notes
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/12/02/2Mailing List, Patch
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94640Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1400804Issue Tracking
https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/81cdb259fb6d8c1c4ecfeea389ff5a73c07f5755Patch, Vendor Advisory
http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=81cdb259fb6d8c1c4ecfeea389ff5a73c07f5755Patch, Vendor Advisory
http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.8.12Release Notes
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/12/02/2Mailing List, Patch
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94640Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1400804Issue Tracking
https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/81cdb259fb6d8c1c4ecfeea389ff5a73c07f5755Patch, Vendor Advisory

Timeline

Published: Dec 28, 2016
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2016-9777?

How severe is CVE-2016-9777?

CVE-2016-9777 has a CVSS score of 7.8/10 (HIGH severity). The EPSS model estimates a 0.38% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2016-9777?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.

Are you affected by CVE-2016-9777?

Run a free Strix scan to check your systems for this vulnerability.

Scan your code now

Source: NVD / NIST