HOMEVULNERABILITIESCVE-2016-8669
MEDIUM

CVE-2016-8669

CWE-369Published: November 4, 2016· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

6.0
CVSS v3.1

Official Description

The serial_update_parameters function in hw/char/serial.c in QEMU (aka Quick Emulator) allows local guest OS administrators to cause a denial of service (divide-by-zero error and QEMU process crash) via vectors involving a value of divider greater than baud base.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2016-8669 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

Exploitability
Attack VectorLocal
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges Req.High
User InteractionNone
ScopeChanged
Impact
ConfidentialityNone
IntegrityNone
AvailabilityHigh
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H

Affected Vendors & Products

Debian1 product(s)
debian linux
openSUSE1 product(s)
leap
qemu1 product(s)
qemu
Red Hat3 product(s)
openstackvirtualizationenterprise linux
Source: NVD CPE · 11 total CPE entries

Exploit & PoC Resources

NO KNOWN EXPLOITNo public exploit confirmed at this time
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Official Patches & Advisories

All References (18)

Quick Facts

CVE IDCVE-2016-8669
CVSS Score6.0 / 10
SeverityMEDIUM
WeaknessCWE-369
CISA KEVNo
Affected4 vendor(s)
PublishedNov 4, 2016

Related CVEs (CWE-369)

Recommended Actions

  • Apply vendor patches immediately
  • Monitor CVE-2016-8669 in threat intel feeds
  • Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts
Data sourced from NVD (NIST), CISA KEV, and EPSS (FIRST). Analysis generated by CTIWATCH.COM. CVE data is provided under the NVD usage policy.