CVE-2009-1242 json
The vmx_set_msr function in arch/x86/kvm/vmx.c in the VMX implementation in the KVM subsystem in the Linux kernel before 2.6.29.1 on the i3…
published 2009-04-06 17 y ago modified 2026-06-16 4 mo ago also EUVD-2009-1241
- cvss
- 4.9
- version 2.0, NVD
- cisa kev
- Not listed
- not in CISA's catalog
- epss
- 0.5%
- EPSS 0.5% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 41%
- public exploits
- 0
- none known
Summary
The vmx_set_msr function in arch/x86/kvm/vmx.c in the VMX implementation in the KVM subsystem in the Linux kernel before 2.6.29.1 on the i386 platform allows guest OS users to cause a denial of service (OOPS) by setting the EFER_LME (aka "Long mode enable") bit in the Extended Feature Enable Register (EFER) model-specific register, which is specific to the x86_64 platform.
Patch / fix
- linux linux_kernel 2.6.29.1
Vendor advisories
What the vendors themselves say about their products: affected, fixed or not affected, and what to do.
red hat product security vex CVE-2009-1242 updated cvss 4.7
kernel: x86 guest OS can crash the system by writing to the EFER
-
Red Hat All currently supported Red Hat productsnot affected: vulnerable code not present
Red Hat CSAF VEX © Red Hat, Inc., from https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/; changed: reduced to product statuses and remediations. CC BY 4.0 · csaf
Exploit prediction
0.47% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 41% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-08).
CVSS scores
| assigned by | version | score | vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVD | 2.0 | 4.9 | AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:C |
Classification
- Weakness
-
- CWE-20 Improper Input Validation
- Technology feeds
References
-
patchwork.kernel.org
/patch/15549/
patch, vendor-advisory
-
openwall.com
/lists/oss-security/2009/04/01/3
mailing-list, patch, third-party-advisory
-
bugzilla.redhat.com
/show_bug.cgi?id=502109
issue-tracking, patch, third-party-advisory
-
redhat.com
/archives/fedora-package-announce/2009-May/msg01126.html
vendor-advisory, third-party-advisory
-
lists.opensuse.org
/opensuse-security-announce/2009-06/msg00002.html
vendor-advisory, mailing-list, third-party-advisory
-
lists.opensuse.org
/opensuse-security-announce/2009-06/msg00001.html
vendor-advisory, mailing-list, third-party-advisory
-
ubuntu.com
/usn/usn-793-1
vendor-advisory, third-party-advisory
-
debian.org
/security/2009/dsa-1800
vendor-advisory, third-party-advisory
-
debian.org
/security/2009/dsa-1787
vendor-advisory, third-party-advisory
-
kernel.org
/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/snapshots/patch-2.6.29-git1.log
broken-link
- globalsecuritymag.com /Vigil-nce-Linux-kernel-denial-of%2C20090402%2C8311
-
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com
/vulnerabilities/49594
vdb-entry, third-party-advisory
-
secunia.com
/advisories/35226
third-party-advisory
-
kernel.org
/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.29.1
broken-link
-
secunia.com
/advisories/34478
third-party-advisory
-
securityfocus.com
/bid/34331
vdb-entry, third-party-advisory
- git.kernel.org /?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=16175a796d061833aacfbd9672235f2d2725df65
-
secunia.com
/advisories/35656
third-party-advisory
-
securityfocus.com
/archive/1/503610/100/0/threaded
mailing-list, third-party-advisory, vdb-entry
-
vigilance.fr
/vulnerability/Linux-kernel-denial-of-service-via-EFER-8585
third-party-advisory
-
secunia.com
/advisories/35120
third-party-advisory
-
secunia.com
/advisories/34981
third-party-advisory
-
secunia.com
/advisories/35387
third-party-advisory
-
wiki.rpath.com
/Advisories:rPSA-2009-0084
broken-link
-
secunia.com
/advisories/35121
third-party-advisory
-
vupen.com
/english/advisories/2009/0924
vdb-entry, broken-link
-
secunia.com
/advisories/35394
third-party-advisory
Sources
- CVE List CVE-2009-1242
- NVD CVE-2009-1242
Fencer Vulns keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.