CVE-2016-7994
CWE-772Published: December 10, 2016· Updated: Jun 17, 2026
Official Description
Memory leak in the virtio_gpu_resource_create_2d function in hw/display/virtio-gpu.c in QEMU (aka Quick Emulator) allows local guest OS administrators to cause a denial of service (memory consumption) via a large number of VIRTIO_GPU_CMD_RESOURCE_CREATE_2D commands.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2016-7994 requires local access, meaning attackers must already have a foothold on the target system.
Exploitation requires high privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.
A successful exploit results in availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 6.0.
The vulnerability has a "Changed" scope, meaning successful exploitation can impact components beyond the vulnerable component itself — such as the host operating system or adjacent services.
CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown
Affected Vendors & Products
Exploit & PoC Resources
Official Patches & Advisories
All References (12)
Quick Facts
Related CVEs (CWE-772)
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2016-7994 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts