CVE-2023-3750 in libvirt
Summary
by MITRE • 07/24/2023
A flaw was found in libvirt. The virStoragePoolObjListSearch function does not return a locked pool as expected, resulting in a race condition and denial of service when attempting to lock the same object from another thread. This issue could allow clients connecting to the read-only socket to crash the libvirt daemon.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-3750 resides within the libvirt virtualization management library, specifically affecting the virStoragePoolObjListSearch function implementation. This flaw represents a critical race condition scenario that undermines the thread safety mechanisms designed to protect shared resources within the libvirt daemon. The issue manifests when the function fails to properly return a locked storage pool object, creating a scenario where concurrent access attempts can lead to unpredictable behavior and system instability. The root cause lies in the improper synchronization of resource access patterns, where the expected locking behavior is not maintained during pool object searches, leading to potential deadlocks or inconsistent states in the virtualization infrastructure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of concurrent access patterns to storage pool objects within the libvirt daemon. When multiple threads attempt to access the same storage pool resource simultaneously, the race condition emerges because the virStoragePoolObjListSearch function does not maintain the expected lock state of the returned pool object. This improper lock handling creates a window where another thread attempting to acquire a lock on the same resource may encounter a corrupted or inconsistent state. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous when exploited through read-only socket connections, as these connections are typically assumed to be less privileged and therefore may not undergo the same rigorous access controls as write operations. The flaw essentially allows for a denial of service condition where legitimate operations can be disrupted or terminated by malicious actors exploiting the race condition.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-3750 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the entire virtualization infrastructure managed by libvirt. When the libvirt daemon crashes due to this race condition, it affects all virtual machines and storage operations that depend on that management layer, potentially causing widespread outages in cloud environments, data centers, or any system relying on libvirt for virtualization management. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-362, which addresses race conditions in concurrent programming, and demonstrates how improper synchronization can lead to denial of service and system instability. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, specifically targeting the availability of services through denial of service attacks, while also potentially enabling broader system compromise if attackers can leverage the daemon crash to execute additional malicious activities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-3750 should focus on immediate patch application from the libvirt maintainers, as this represents a critical security flaw requiring core library updates. Organizations should implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual patterns in libvirt daemon behavior or frequent crashes that may indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit exposure of libvirt management interfaces, particularly the read-only sockets that are vulnerable to this attack vector. Additionally, implementing proper resource isolation and limiting concurrent access to storage pool objects can help reduce the window of opportunity for exploitation. System administrators should also consider implementing automated restart policies for libvirt services to minimize downtime when crashes occur, while maintaining audit logging to track potential exploitation attempts and monitor for any unauthorized access patterns that may indicate active exploitation of this vulnerability.