CVE-2014-0150 in QEMU
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in the virtio_net_handle_mac function in hw/net/virtio-net.c in QEMU 2.0 and earlier allows local guest users to execute arbitrary code via a MAC addresses table update request, which triggers a heap-based buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/11/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0150 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the QEMU virtualization platform that affects versions 2.0 and earlier. This issue resides in the virtio_net_handle_mac function located in the hw/net/virtio-net.c source file, which governs the handling of MAC address table updates within virtualized network environments. The vulnerability specifically manifests when local guest users manipulate network traffic to trigger a heap-based buffer overflow through malformed MAC address table requests.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and integer overflow handling within the network virtualization layer. When a guest operating system attempts to update the MAC address table, the virtio_net_handle_mac function fails to properly validate the size parameters of the incoming data structure. This oversight allows an attacker to craft a malicious MAC address table update that causes integer overflow conditions, ultimately resulting in heap memory corruption. The heap-based buffer overflow occurs because the system allocates memory based on the manipulated integer values, creating a situation where subsequent memory operations exceed allocated buffer boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it enables local privilege escalation within the guest environment to achieve arbitrary code execution. Attackers exploiting this flaw can potentially gain control over the entire virtual machine, compromising the isolation guarantees that virtualization platforms are designed to maintain. This vulnerability undermines the fundamental security model of virtualized environments where guest operating systems should remain isolated from each other and from the host system. The local nature of the attack means that an attacker must already have access to the guest operating system, but this access can be leveraged to escalate privileges and potentially compromise the host system or other virtual machines running on the same platform.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, which categorizes integer overflow conditions as a significant class of vulnerabilities that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The attack vector follows patterns consistent with the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the network virtualization layer to achieve code execution. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and memory safety in hypervisor components, as even seemingly benign network operations can become attack vectors when proper bounds checking is absent. Organizations utilizing QEMU virtualization platforms should prioritize immediate patching and implementation of additional monitoring controls to detect anomalous MAC address table update patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.
The remediation approach for CVE-2014-0150 requires immediate deployment of QEMU version 2.1 or later, which contains the necessary patches to prevent integer overflow conditions in the virtio_net_handle_mac function. Security administrators should also implement network monitoring solutions that can detect unusual MAC address table update activities and establish baseline behavior for normal network operations. Additional defensive measures include restricting guest network access privileges, implementing strict input validation at multiple layers of the virtualization stack, and conducting regular security assessments of virtualization components. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date virtualization platforms and the necessity of comprehensive security testing for hypervisor components that handle guest-to-host communication.