CVE-2026-122192
Description
A flaw was found in Firecracker. Improper handling of failed memory remapping can allow a privileged user inside a guest virtual machine to read or modify the host's Virtual Machine Monitor (VMM) process memory. This vulnerability can be triggered through memory ballooning or discard operations on virtual machines restored from a file-backed snapshot if the host fails to establish a replacement memory mapping. Successful exploitation compromises the host process, potentially leading to unauthorized data disclosure or arbitrary code execution.
Statement
This vulnerability is rated as Important because a privileged guest user can break isolation boundaries to access host memory, though exploitation requires specific snapshot configurations and host mapping failures. Firecracker is not shipped or supported in Red Hat products, including Red Hat Enterprise Linux and OpenShift Virtualization. Consequently, standard Red Hat enterprise environments are not exposed to this flaw.
Mitigation
Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base, or stability.
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Confidentiality
Technical Impact: Read Memory
If the expired pointer is used in a read operation, an attacker might be able to control data read in by the application.
Availability
Technical Impact: DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart
If the expired pointer references a memory location that is not accessible to the product, or points to a location that is "malformed" (such as NULL) or larger than expected by a read or write operation, then a crash may occur.
Integrity,Confidentiality,Availability
Technical Impact: Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands
If the expired pointer is used in a function call, or points to unexpected data in a write operation, then code execution may be possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not sure what something means? Check out our Security Glossary.
Want to get errata notifications? Sign up here.
