CVE-2026-42486
Published:July 09, 2026
Updated:August 06, 2026
[This CNA information record relates to multiple CVEs; the text explains which aspects/vulnerabilities correspond to which CVE.]
XAPI can configure different users with different roles, using Role
Based Access Control. For more details, see:
https://docs.xenserver.com/en-us/xencenter/current-release/rbac-overview.html#rbac-roles
The pool-admin role is fully privileged. Notably, users with this role
can also SSH into the host as root.
The other administrator roles are pool-operator, vm-power-admin and
vm-admin, each of which are authorised to configure and manage various
aspects of the system.
Some settings are inadequately restricted, and can be set by a lower
privilege of administrator than expected.
* CVE-2026-23559: A vm-admin can set VBD.other_config:backend-local and
turn arbitrary files in dom0 into VDIs (virtual disks) and give said
disks to a VM they control. This is an arbitrary read and/or modify
of files in dom0.
* CVE-2026-23560: A vm-admin can set VM.other-config:is_system_domain
and mark a VM as a system domain. System domains are ignored and
left running during certain other host/pool operations, and may be
hidden from view in tooling.
* CVE-2026-23561: A vm-admin can set VM.other_config:storage_driver_domain
and mark a VM as the storage domain for a particular host storage
connection (PBD). Shutting down the VM can cause the PBD to be
erroneously marked as unplugged when it is not.
* CVE-2026-23562: Configuration of PCI passthrough is normally
restricted to the pool-admin role. However one API was missing this
check, allowing a vm-admin access to unintended host hardware.
* CVE-2026-42486: A vm-admin can set the VM.platform:hvm_serial
parameter, which should be restricted to the pool-admin role, as it
can allow arbitrary dom0 file write.
Affected Packages
https://github.com/xapi-project/xen-api.git (GITHUB):
Affected version(s) >=v26.0.0 <v26.12.0Fix Suggestion:
Update to version v26.12.0https://github.com/xapi-project/xen-api.git (GITHUB):
Affected version(s) >=v26.1.0 <v26.1.11Fix Suggestion:
Update to version v26.1.11Related Resources (1)
Do you need more information?
Contact UsCVSS v4
Base Score:
9.4
Attack Vector
LOCAL
Attack Complexity
LOW
Attack Requirements
NONE
Privileges Required
NONE
User Interaction
NONE
Vulnerable System Confidentiality
HIGH
Vulnerable System Integrity
HIGH
Vulnerable System Availability
HIGH
Subsequent System Confidentiality
HIGH
Subsequent System Integrity
HIGH
Subsequent System Availability
HIGH
CVSS v3
Base Score:
9.3
Attack Vector
LOCAL
Attack Complexity
LOW
Privileges Required
NONE
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
CHANGED
Confidentiality
HIGH
Integrity
HIGH
Availability
HIGH
Weakness Type (CWE)
Execution with Unnecessary Privileges
EPSS
Base Score:
0.13