CVE-2016-2538

What it is

Multiple integer overflows in the USB Net device emulator (hw/usb/dev-network.c) in QEMU before 2.5.1 allow local guest OS administrators to cause a denial of service (QEMU process crash) or obtain sensitive host memory information via a remote NDIS control message packet that is mishandled in the (1) rndis_query_response, (2) rndis_set_response, or (3) usb_net_handle_dataout function.

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited locally on the machine with a low-privilege account. High risk of data exposure, service disruption.

Exploit odds

0.4% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

No patch or advisory is linked yet. Look at mitigations or restrict exposure.

Timeline

1. 2016-06-16 18:59 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-06-17 00:44 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 0.4% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 7.1 HIGH (CVSS).
• Fix: none linked yet, which raises it.

Details

Published

2016-06-16 18:59 UTC

Last modified

2026-06-17 00:44 UTC

Exploit probability

0.4% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-189

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Qemu ≤ 2.5.0

Attack profile CVSS 3.0 · 7.1

Attack vector

Local

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

Low

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

None

Availability

High

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2016-2538.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2016-2538. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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