CVE-2026-122192: Guest access to Firecracker process memory after a failed memory discard
Advisory generated from the CVE record, CISA, Exploit Observer and VEDAS: what it is, whether it is exploited, who is affected, and how to fix and detect it.
Generated by VEDAS. Scores as of 2026-11-08 00:03 UTC. Rebuilt every few hours from cve-scores, CISA KEV and vedas-signatures. How this works and its limits.
What it is
Improper handling of a failed memory remap in Firecracker versions 0.23.0 through 1.16.1 might allow a guest user with root privileges to read or modify Firecracker VMM process memory via balloon or virtio-mem discard requests on microVMs restored from a snapshot with the File memory backend, if the host fails to create the replacement mapping. To remediate this issue, users should upgrade to Firecracker 1.16.2 or 1.17.0 and later.
Description quoted from the CVE record (assigned by AMZN, published 2026-11-04).
Weakness: CWE-390 Detection of error condition without action; CWE-825 Expired pointer dereference
How it can be exploited
Exploitable with local access with low attack complexity only when specific conditions are present needing high privileges and no user interaction. Impact: confidentiality high, integrity high, availability high. CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
Public exploit evidence (Exploit Observer)
Exploit Observer has no public exploit code naming this CVE. Check Exploit Observer for anything new.
Live scores
- EPSS
- 0.002
low predicted chance of attack - VEDAS
- 0.047
little exploit evidence - On CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Detection rule
- No public rule yet
Who is affected
| Product | Affected | Not affected |
|---|---|---|
| AWS firecracker | from 0.23.0 before 1.16.2 | Not stated |
Version ranges exactly as the CVE record states them. “Before X” means X is the first fixed version.
How to fix it
Fixed versions stated in the CVE record: 1.16.2.
Vendor guidance:
- https://github.com/firecracker-microvm/firecracker/releases/tag/v1.16.2 (release-notes, patch)
- https://github.com/firecracker-microvm/firecracker/releases/tag/v1.17.0 (release-notes, patch)
- https://aws.amazon.com/security/security-bulletins/2026-169-aws/ (vendor-advisory)
How to detect it
There is no open VEDAS detection rule for this bug yet. It is listed on the detection gaps page if CISA has confirmed attacks.
Advisories on this CVE
References
Vendor advisories and patches
- https://github.com/firecracker-microvm/firecracker/releases/tag/v1.16.2 (release-notes, patch)
- https://github.com/firecracker-microvm/firecracker/releases/tag/v1.17.0 (release-notes, patch)
- https://aws.amazon.com/security/security-bulletins/2026-169-aws/ (vendor-advisory)
Technical analysis and advisories
- https://github.com/firecracker-microvm/firecracker/security/advisories/GHSA-48ww-rqpp-2mgm (third-party-advisory)
Other databases
Where this comes from
This advisory is generated automatically by VEDAS from: CVE.org record, cve-scores (EPSS and VEDAS), Exploit Observer. Text in quotes is reproduced from the source; everything else is a fixed template filled with source fields. Nothing here is written by a language model. Check the vendor advisory before acting, and read how VEDAS and Exploit Observer work, and their limits.
Supporting partners
