CVE-2013-4536

Host code execution via unchecked scatter-gather count

Published May 28, 2021 · Updated Aug 6, 2024

Memory corruption in QEMU before 1.5.3 allows local users to execute code on the host by altering saved migration state. virtqueue_map_sg() trusts the wire-supplied num_sg count for virtio-block and virtio-serial buffers, allowing writes beyond VIRTQUEUE_MAX_SIZE. Exploitation requires control of savevm data on disk or during migration and runs code with the QEMU process's privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.30%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Memory corruption in QEMU before 1.5.3 allows local users to execute code on the host by altering saved migration state. virtqueue_map_sg() trusts the wire-supplied num_sg count for virtio-block and virtio-serial buffers, allowing writes beyond VIRTQUEUE_MAX_SIZE. Exploitation requires control of savevm data on disk or during migration and runs code with the QEMU process's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2013-4536
Published
May 28, 2021
Updated
Aug 6, 2024
Vendor
QEMU Project
Product
QEMU
Classifications
CWE-269, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 28, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 6, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=qemu-kvm 1.5.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

QEMU Project · QEMUversion=qemu-kvm 1.5.3

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.6NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-269Improper Privilege Management
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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