CVE-2026-122192: Escaping AWS Firecracker from guest userspace: VMM memory corruption
Affects firecrackerSource Reddit NetSec
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.5 High · fixed in 1.16.2 : patch firecracker soon.
Data as of 5 Nov 2026, 00:16 UTC
Thin evidence
One scorer or none| CNA (AMZN) | CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 |
|---|---|---|
| CNA (AMZN) | CVSS 4.0 | 7.1 |
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 1.16.2
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 4 Nov 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 5 Nov 2026.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
crates.iogithub/firecracker-microvm/firecrackerpkg:cargo/github/firecracker-microvm/firecrackerOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
The vulnerability is fixed in Firecracker versions 1.16.2 and 1.17.0 and later. Operators restoring VMs from snapshots using the File memory backend with a balloon or virtio-mem device should upgrade to these versions. If immediate upgrade is not possible, restoring snapshots using the Uffd memory backend is recommended, along with kernel and memory management configurations such as using heuristic overcommit (vm.overcommit_memory=0) and enabling the memory cgroup OOM killer. AWS manages remediation for its cloud services, and no customer action is required for AWS Lambda and similar services.
Discussion
CVE-2026-122192 is a vulnerability in Firecracker versions 0.23.0 through 1.16.1 that allows a root user in a guest VM to read or modify memory of the Firecracker process on the host. This occurs when restoring VMs from snapshots using the File memory backend with a balloon or virtio-mem device, due to a failed memory remapping operation that leaves stale host virtual address references. The issue is fixed in Firecracker versions 1.16.2 and 1.17.0 and later. AWS Lambda and other AWS services are not affected. No customer action is required for AWS-managed services.
r/netsec (opens in a new tab)u/coinspect0 points0 comments
We just published our research on escaping Firecracker microVMs, coordinated with AWS.
The interesting part is how a guest can end up accessing memory belonging to the Firecracker process running outside the VM.
The vulnerability: When a microVM is restored from a snapshot using the File memory backend, a failed memory remapping operation can leave KVM referencing a stale host virtual address range. Firecracker may subsequently reuse that memory for its own data, while KVM still considers it guest memory.
This allows a malicious guest to read or overwrite Firecracker VMM process memory, crossing the VM isolation boundary.
Our research demonstrates an exploit chain from guest userspace to controlled code execution in the host.
Affected configurations: Firecracker 0.23.0 - 1.16.1, when restoring snapshots with the File memory backend and a balloon or virtio-mem device.
Fixed: Firecracker 1.16.2 and 1.17.0+.
AWS advisory: https://aws.amazon.com/security/security-bulletins/2026-169-aws/
The write-up covers the vulnerability, the memory-management behavior behind it, and the exploitation process.
We are from Coinspect, the team behind the research. Happy to answer technical questions here.