The VGA module in QEMU improperly performs bounds checking on banked access to video memory, which allows local guest OS administrators to execute arbitrary code on the host by changing access modes after setting the bank register, aka the "Dark Portal" issue.
This vulnerability carries a HIGH severity rating with a CVSS v3.1 score of 8.8, requiring local system access to exploit with relatively low complexity without requiring user interaction requiring only low-level privileges . The vulnerability impacts confidentiality (data exposure), integrity (unauthorized modifications), and availability (service disruption) for affected systems. Impacting 15 products from debian, from hp, from canonical and 12 others, organizations running these solutions should prioritize assessment and patching.
First disclosed in 2016, this vulnerability was reported during a period defined by widespread IoT adoption challenges, mobile security concerns, and the emergence of advanced persistent threat (APT) techniques. Contemporary mitigation strategies focused on secure development practices and third-party component vetting.
2016-05-11T21:59:01.077
2025-04-12T10:46:40.837
Deferred
CVSSv3.1: 8.8 (HIGH)
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
3.9
10.0
| Type | Vendor | Product | Version/Range | Vulnerable? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating System | debian | debian_linux | 8.0 | Yes |
| Application | hp | helion_openstack | 2.0.0 | Yes |
| Application | hp | helion_openstack | 2.1.0 | Yes |
| Application | hp | helion_openstack | 2.1.2 | Yes |
| Application | hp | helion_openstack | 2.1.4 | Yes |
| Operating System | canonical | ubuntu_linux | 12.04 | Yes |
| Operating System | canonical | ubuntu_linux | 14.04 | Yes |
| Operating System | canonical | ubuntu_linux | 15.10 | Yes |
| Operating System | canonical | ubuntu_linux | 16.04 | Yes |
| Application | qemu | qemu | ≤ 2.5.1 | Yes |
| Application | qemu | qemu | 2.6.0 | Yes |
| Application | qemu | qemu | 2.6.0 | Yes |
| Application | qemu | qemu | 2.6.0 | Yes |
| Application | qemu | qemu | 2.6.0 | Yes |
| Application | qemu | qemu | 2.6.0 | Yes |
| Application | oracle | vm_server | 3.2 | Yes |
| Application | oracle | vm_server | 3.3 | Yes |
| Application | oracle | vm_server | 3.4 | Yes |
| Operating System | oracle | linux | 5 | Yes |
| Operating System | oracle | linux | 6 | Yes |
| Operating System | oracle | linux | 7 | Yes |
| Application | citrix | xenserver | ≤ 7.0 | Yes |
| Application | redhat | openstack | 5.0 | Yes |
| Application | redhat | openstack | 6.0 | Yes |
| Application | redhat | openstack | 7.0 | Yes |
| Application | redhat | openstack | 8 | Yes |
| Application | redhat | virtualization | 3.0 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_desktop | 6.0 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_desktop | 7.0 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_server | 6.0 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_server | 7.0 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_server_aus | 7.2 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_server_aus | 7.3 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_server_aus | 7.4 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_server_aus | 7.6 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_server_eus | 7.2 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_server_eus | 7.3 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_server_eus | 7.4 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_server_eus | 7.5 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_server_eus | 7.6 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_server_eus | 7.7 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_server_tus | 7.2 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_server_tus | 7.3 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_server_tus | 7.6 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_server_tus | 7.7 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_workstation | 6.0 | Yes |
| Operating System | redhat | enterprise_linux_workstation | 7.0 | Yes |
SecUtils normalizes and enriches National Vulnerability Database (NVD) records by standardizing vendor and product identifiers, aggregating vulnerability metadata from both NVD and MITRE sources, and providing structured context for security teams. For debian's affected products, we extract Common Platform Enumeration (CPE) data, Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) classifications, CVSS severity metrics, and reference data to enable rapid vulnerability prioritization and asset correlation. This record contains no exploit code, proof-of-concept instructions, or attack methodologies—only defensive intelligence necessary for patch management, risk assessment, and security operations.