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CVE-2023-46842

x86 HVM hypercalls may trigger Xen bug check

6.5 MediumFix available

Unlike 32-bit PV guests, HVM guests may switch freely between 64-bit and other modes. This in particular means that they may set registers used to pass 32-bit-mode hypercall arguments to values outside of the range 32-bit code would be able to set them to.

When processing of hypercalls takes a considerable amount of time, the hypervisor may choose to invoke a hypercall continuation. Doing so involves putting (perhaps updated) hypercall arguments in respective registers. For guests not running in 64-bit mode this further involves a certain amount of translation of the values.

Unfortunately internal sanity checking of these translated values assumes high halves of registers to always be clear when invoking a hypercall. When this is found not to be the case, it triggers a consistency check in the hypervisor and causes a crash.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Local
Complexity
Low
Privileges needed
Low
User interaction
None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
High

Exploit likelihood

8.53%Up 8.5 points since May 17, 2024
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 6.5

x86 HVM hypercalls may trigger Xen bug check

Unlike 32-bit PV guests, HVM guests may switch freely between 64-bit and other modes. This in particular means that they may set registers used to pass 32-bit-mode hypercall arguments to values outside of the range 32-bit code would be able to set them to.

When processing of hypercalls takes a considerable amount of time, the hypervisor may choose to invoke a hypercall continuation. Doing so involves putting (perhaps updated) hypercall arguments in respective registers. For guests not running in 64-bit mode this further involves a certain amount of translation of the values.

Unfortunately internal sanity checking of these translated values assumes high halves of registers to always be clear when invoking a hypercall. When this is found not to be the case, it triggers a consistency check in the hypervisor and causes a crash.

Record
CVE-2023-46842
CVSS 3.1
6.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H
Weakness
CWE-843
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2023-51008 6.5

Unlike 32-bit PV guests, HVM guests may switch freely between 64-bit and other modes. This in particular means that they may set registers used to pass 32-bit-mode hypercall arguments to values outside of the range 32-bit code would be able to set them to.

When processing of hypercalls takes a considerable amount of time, the hypervisor may choose to invoke a hypercall continuation. Doing so involves putting (perhaps updated) hypercall arguments in respective registers. For guests not running in 64-bit mode this further involves a certain amount of translation of the values.

Unfortunately internal sanity checking of these translated values assumes high halves of registers to always be clear when invoking a hypercall. When this is found not to be the case, it triggers a consistency check in the hypervisor and causes a crash.

Record
EUVD-2023-51008
CVSS 3.1
6.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-hcr5-hp8w-36q9 6.5

Unlike 32-bit PV guests, HVM guests may switch freely between 64-bit and other modes. This in...

Unlike 32-bit PV guests, HVM guests may switch freely between 64-bit and other modes. This in particular means that they may set registers used to pass 32-bit-mode hypercall arguments to values outside of the range 32-bit code would be able to set them to.

When processing of hypercalls takes a considerable amount of time, the hypervisor may choose to invoke a hypercall continuation. Doing so involves putting (perhaps updated) hypercall arguments in respective registers. For guests not running in 64-bit mode this further involves a certain amount of translation of the values.

Unfortunately internal sanity checking of these translated values assumes high halves of registers to always be clear when invoking a hypercall. When this is found not to be the case, it triggers a consistency check in the hypervisor and causes a crash.

Record
GHSA-hcr5-hp8w-36q9
CVSS 3.1
6.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H
Weakness
CWE-843
Updated
2026-11-02
NVD 6.5

Unlike 32-bit PV guests, HVM guests may switch freely between 64-bit and other modes. This in particular means that they may set registers used to pass 32-bit-mode hypercall arguments to values outside of the range 32-bit code would be able to set them to.

When processing of hypercalls takes a considerable amount of time, the hypervisor may choose to invoke a hypercall continuation. Doing so involves putting (perhaps updated) hypercall arguments in respective registers. For guests not running in 64-bit mode this further involves a certain amount of translation of the values.

Unfortunately internal sanity checking of these translated values assumes high halves of registers to always be clear when invoking a hypercall. When this is found not to be the case, it triggers a consistency check in the hypervisor and causes a crash.

Record
CVE-2023-46842
CVSS 3.1
6.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H
Weakness
CWE-843
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVALPINE-CVE-2023-46842 6.5

Unlike 32-bit PV guests, HVM guests may switch freely between 64-bit and other modes. This in particular means that they may set registers used to pass 32-bit-mode hypercall arguments to values outside of the range 32-bit code would be able to set them to.

When processing of hypercalls takes a considerable amount of time, the hypervisor may choose to invoke a hypercall continuation. Doing so involves putting (perhaps updated) hypercall arguments in respective registers. For guests not running in 64-bit mode this further involves a certain amount of translation of the values.

Unfortunately internal sanity checking of these translated values assumes high halves of registers to always be clear when invoking a hypercall. When this is found not to be the case, it triggers a consistency check in the hypervisor and causes a crash.

Record
ALPINE-CVE-2023-46842
CVSS 3.1
6.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV 6.5

Unlike 32-bit PV guests, HVM guests may switch freely between 64-bit and other modes. This in particular means that they may set registers used to pass 32-bit-mode hypercall arguments to values outside of the range 32-bit code would be able to set them to.

When processing of hypercalls takes a considerable amount of time, the hypervisor may choose to invoke a hypercall continuation. Doing so involves putting (perhaps updated) hypercall arguments in respective registers. For guests not running in 64-bit mode this further involves a certain amount of translation of the values.

Unfortunately internal sanity checking of these translated values assumes high halves of registers to always be clear when invoking a hypercall. When this is found not to be the case, it triggers a consistency check in the hypervisor and causes a crash.

Record
CVE-2023-46842
CVSS 3.1
6.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
Show 10 moreShow less
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2023-46842 6.5

Unlike 32-bit PV guests, HVM guests may switch freely between 64-bit and other modes. This in particular means that they may set registers used to pass 32-bit-mode hypercall arguments to values outside of the range 32-bit code would be able to set them to. When processing of hypercalls takes a considerable amount of time, the hypervisor may choose to invoke a hypercall continuation. Doing so involves putting (perhaps updated) hypercall arguments in respective registers. For guests not running in 64-bit mode this further involves a certain amount of translation of the values. Unfortunately internal sanity checking of these translated values assumes high halves of registers to always be clear when invoking a hypercall. When this is found not to be the case, it triggers a consistency check in the hypervisor and causes a crash.

Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2023-46842
CVSS 3.1
6.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2023-46842 6.5

Unlike 32-bit PV guests, HVM guests may switch freely between 64-bit and other modes. This in particular means that they may set registers used to pass 32-bit-mode hypercall arguments to values outside of the range 32-bit code would be able to set them to. When processing of hypercalls takes a considerable amount of time, the hypervisor may choose to invoke a hypercall continuation. Doing so involves putting (perhaps updated) hypercall arguments in respective registers. For guests not running in 64-bit mode this further involves a certain amount of translation of the values. Unfortunately internal sanity checking of these translated values assumes high halves of registers to always be clear when invoking a hypercall. When this is found not to be the case, it triggers a consistency check in the hypervisor and causes a crash.

Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2023-46842
CVSS 3.1
6.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2024:13853-1 No score

xen-4.18.2_02-1.1 on GA media

These are all security issues fixed in the xen-4.18.2_02-1.1 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.

Record
openSUSE-SU-2024:13853-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2024:1259-1 No score

Security update for xen

This update for xen fixes the following issues:

  • CVE-2023-46842: Fixed denial of service due to Xen bug check triggered by HVM hypercalls (XSA-454) in xen x86 (bsc#1221984)
  • CVE-2024-31142: Fixed incorrect logic for BTC/SRSO mitigations (XSA-455) in xen x86 (bsc#1222302)
  • CVE-2024-2201: Fixed memory disclosure via Native Branch History Injection (XSA-456) in xen x86 (bsc#1222453)

Other fixes:

  • Update to Xen 4.16.6 (bsc#1027519)
Record
SUSE-SU-2024:1259-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2024:1295-1 No score

Security update for xen

This update for xen fixes the following issues:

  • CVE-2023-46842: Fixed denial of service due to Xen bug check triggered by HVM hypercalls (XSA-454) in xen x86 (bsc#1221984)
  • CVE-2024-31142: Fixed incorrect logic for BTC/SRSO mitigations (XSA-455) in xen x86 (bsc#1222302)
  • CVE-2024-2201: Fixed memory disclosure via Native Branch History Injection (XSA-456) in xen x86 (bsc#1222453)

Other fixes:

  • Update to Xen 4.17.4 (bsc#1027519)
Record
SUSE-SU-2024:1295-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2024:1540-1 No score

Security update for xen

This update for xen fixes the following issues:

  • CVE-2024-2201: Mitigation for Native Branch History Injection (XSA-456, bsc#1222453)
  • CVE-2023-46842: HVM hypercalls may trigger Xen bug check (XSA-454, bsc#1221984)
  • CVE-2024-31142: Fixed incorrect logic for BTC/SRSO mitigations (XSA-455, bsc#1222302)
Record
SUSE-SU-2024:1540-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2024:1541-1 No score

Security update for xen

This update for xen fixes the following issues:

  • CVE-2024-2201: Mitigation for Native Branch History Injection (XSA-456, bsc#1222453)
  • CVE-2023-46842: HVM hypercalls may trigger Xen bug check (XSA-454, bsc#1221984)
  • CVE-2024-31142: Fixed incorrect logic for BTC/SRSO mitigations (XSA-455, bsc#1222302)
  • Upstream bug fixes (bsc#1027519)
Record
SUSE-SU-2024:1541-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2024:2531-1 No score

Security update for xen

This update for xen fixes the following issues:

  • CVE-2023-46842: Fixed x86 HVM hypercalls may trigger Xen bug check (XSA-454, bsc#1221984).
  • CVE-2024-31143: Fixed double unlock in x86 guest IRQ handling (XSA-458, bsc#1227355).
Record
SUSE-SU-2024:2531-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2024:2535-1 No score

Security update for xen

This update for xen fixes the following issues:

  • CVE-2023-28746: Register File Data Sampling (XSA-452, bsc#1221332)
  • CVE-2023-46842: HVM hypercalls may trigger Xen bug check (XSA-454, bsc#1221984)
  • CVE-2024-2193: Fixed GhostRace, a speculative race conditions. (XSA-453, bsc#1221334)
  • CVE-2024-2201: Mitigation for Native Branch History Injection (XSA-456, bsc#1222453)
  • CVE-2024-31142: Fixed incorrect logic for BTC/SRSO mitigations (XSA-455, bsc#1222302)
  • CVE-2024-31143: Fixed double unlock in x86 guest IRQ handling (XSA-458, bsc#1227355)
Record
SUSE-SU-2024:2535-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2024:2654-1 No score

Security update for xen

This update for xen fixes the following issues:

  • CVE-2023-46842: Fixed x86 HVM hypercalls may trigger Xen bug check (XSA-454, bsc#1221984).
  • CVE-2024-31143: Fixed double unlock in x86 guest IRQ handling (XSA-458, bsc#1227355).
Record
SUSE-SU-2024:2654-1
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
xen
Alpine:v3.16
3.2.0 up to 4.16.6-r0
4.16.6-r0
xen
Alpine:v3.17
3.2.0 up to 4.16.6-r0
4.16.6-r0
xen
Alpine:v3.18
3.2.0 up to 4.17.4-r0
4.17.4-r0
xen
Alpine:v3.19
3.2.0 up to 4.18.2-r0
4.18.2-r0
xen
Alpine:v3.20
3.2.0 up to 4.18.2-r0
4.18.2-r0
xen
Alpine:v3.21
3.2.0 up to 4.18.2-r0
4.18.2-r0
xen
Alpine:v3.22
3.2.0 up to 4.18.2-r0
4.18.2-r0
xen
Alpine:v3.23
3.2.0 up to 4.18.2-r0
4.18.2-r0
xen
Alpine:v3.24
3.2.0 up to 4.18.2-r0
4.18.2-r0
xen
Debian:12
before 4.17.5+23-ga4e5191dc0-1, plus listed versions
4.17.1+2-gb773c48e36-14.17.2+55-g0b56bed864-14.17.2+76-ge1f9cb16e2-14.17.2+76-ge1f9cb16e2-1~deb12u14.17.2-1
Show 6 moreShow less
4.17.3+10-g091466ba55-14.17.3+10-g091466ba55-1.14.17.3+10-g091466ba55-1.1~exp14.17.3+10-g091466ba55-1.1~exp24.17.3+10-g091466ba55-1~deb12u14.17.3+36-g54dacb5c02-1
4.17.5+23-ga4e5191dc0-1
Show 36 moreShow less
Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
xen
Debian:13
before 4.19.1-1
4.19.1-1
xen
Debian:14
before 4.19.1-1
4.19.1-1
xen
Debian:12
From an advisory covering 12 CVEs
before 4.17.5+23-ga4e5191dc0-1, plus listed versions
4.17.1+2-gb773c48e36-14.17.2+55-g0b56bed864-14.17.2+76-ge1f9cb16e2-14.17.2+76-ge1f9cb16e2-1~deb12u14.17.2-1
Show 6 moreShow less
4.17.3+10-g091466ba55-14.17.3+10-g091466ba55-1.14.17.3+10-g091466ba55-1.1~exp14.17.3+10-g091466ba55-1.1~exp24.17.3+10-g091466ba55-1~deb12u14.17.3+36-g54dacb5c02-1
4.17.5+23-ga4e5191dc0-1
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3
From an advisory covering 3 CVEs
before 4.16.6_02-150400.4.55.1
4.16.6_02-150400.4.55.1
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4
From an advisory covering 3 CVEs
before 4.16.6_02-150400.4.55.1
4.16.6_02-150400.4.55.1
xen
openSUSE:Leap Micro 5.3
From an advisory covering 3 CVEs
before 4.16.6_02-150400.4.55.1
4.16.6_02-150400.4.55.1
xen
openSUSE:Leap Micro 5.4
From an advisory covering 3 CVEs
before 4.16.6_02-150400.4.55.1
4.16.6_02-150400.4.55.1
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5
From an advisory covering 3 CVEs
before 4.17.4_02-150500.3.30.1
4.17.4_02-150500.3.30.1
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP5
From an advisory covering 3 CVEs
before 4.17.4_02-150500.3.30.1
4.17.4_02-150500.3.30.1
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Server Applications 15 SP5
From an advisory covering 3 CVEs
before 4.17.4_02-150500.3.30.1
4.17.4_02-150500.3.30.1
xen
openSUSE:Leap 15.5
From an advisory covering 3 CVEs
before 4.17.4_02-150500.3.30.1
4.17.4_02-150500.3.30.1
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.1
From an advisory covering 3 CVEs
before 4.14.6_14-150300.3.72.1
4.14.6_14-150300.3.72.1
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.2
From an advisory covering 3 CVEs
before 4.14.6_14-150300.3.72.1
4.14.6_14-150300.3.72.1
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP5
From an advisory covering 3 CVEs
before 4.12.4_48-3.109.1
4.12.4_48-3.109.1
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5
From an advisory covering 3 CVEs
before 4.12.4_48-3.109.1
4.12.4_48-3.109.1
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP5
From an advisory covering 3 CVEs
before 4.12.4_48-3.109.1
4.12.4_48-3.109.1
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP6
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 4.18.2_06-150600.3.3.1
4.18.2_06-150600.3.3.1
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Server Applications 15 SP6
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 4.18.2_06-150600.3.3.1
4.18.2_06-150600.3.3.1
xen
openSUSE:Leap 15.6
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 4.18.2_06-150600.3.3.1
4.18.2_06-150600.3.3.1
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2-LTSS
From an advisory covering 6 CVEs
before 4.13.5_12-150200.3.93.1
4.13.5_12-150200.3.93.1
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2-LTSS
From an advisory covering 6 CVEs
before 4.13.5_12-150200.3.93.1
4.13.5_12-150200.3.93.1
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP2
From an advisory covering 6 CVEs
before 4.13.5_12-150200.3.93.1
4.13.5_12-150200.3.93.1
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 4.17.4_04-150500.3.33.1
4.17.4_04-150500.3.33.1
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP5
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 4.17.4_04-150500.3.33.1
4.17.4_04-150500.3.33.1
xen
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Server Applications 15 SP5
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 4.17.4_04-150500.3.33.1
4.17.4_04-150500.3.33.1
xen
openSUSE:Leap Micro 5.5
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 4.17.4_04-150500.3.33.1
4.17.4_04-150500.3.33.1
xen
openSUSE:Leap 15.5
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 4.17.4_04-150500.3.33.1
4.17.4_04-150500.3.33.1
xen
Ubuntu:16.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
4.5.1-0ubuntu14.5.1-0ubuntu24.6.0-1ubuntu14.6.0-1ubuntu24.6.0-1ubuntu4
Show 7 moreShow less
4.6.0-1ubuntu4.14.6.0-1ubuntu4.24.6.0-1ubuntu4.34.6.5-0ubuntu14.6.5-0ubuntu1.14.6.5-0ubuntu1.24.6.5-0ubuntu1.4
None known
xen
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
4.9.0-0ubuntu34.9.0-0ubuntu44.9.2-0ubuntu1
None known
xen
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
4.9.2-0ubuntu24.9.2-0ubuntu64.9.2-0ubuntu74.11.3+24-g14b62ab3e5-1ubuntu14.11.3+24-g14b62ab3e5-1ubuntu24.11.3+24-g14b62ab3e5-1ubuntu2.24.11.3+24-g14b62ab3e5-1ubuntu2.3
None known
xen
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
4.11.4+24-gddaaccbbab-1ubuntu24.16.0-1~ubuntu24.16.0-1~ubuntu2.1
None known
xen
Ubuntu:24.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
4.17.2-14.17.2+55-g0b56bed864-14.17.2+76-ge1f9cb16e2-14.17.2+76-ge1f9cb16e2-1ubuntu14.17.3+10-g091466ba55-14.17.3+10-g091466ba55-1.1ubuntu24.17.3+10-g091466ba55-1.1ubuntu3
None known
xen
Ubuntu:25.10
All versions, plus listed versions
4.20.0-1ubuntu14.20.0+68-g35cb38b222-1
None known
xen
Ubuntu:26.10
All versions, plus listed versions
4.20.2+7-g1badcf5035-2build24.20.2+37-g61ff35323e-1ubuntu14.20.3+127-gc42374a105-1
None known
xen
Ubuntu:26.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
4.20.0+68-g35cb38b222-14.20.2+7-g1badcf5035-24.20.2+7-g1badcf5035-2build2
None known
xen
openSUSE:Tumbleweed
From an advisory covering 3 CVEs
before 4.18.2_02-1.1
4.18.2_02-1.1

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
affected, facts
first indexedCVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2023-46842 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 6.5) in Xen, published April 12, 2024. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 8.53%, the 95th percentile. Fixed in xen 4.16.6-r0.

References

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