# CVE-2012-5625: OpenStack Nova information leak in libvirt LVM-backed instances

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2012-5625-openstack-nova-information-leak-in-libvirt-lvm-backed-instances  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2022-05-17. Updated: 2026-05-19  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2012-5625 · Severity: medium · CVSS 4.3 · Published 2022-05-17

OpenStack Nova, a cloud computing fabric controller, contains a flaw in how it manages virtual machine storage. When using certain storage configurations (LVM-backed instances), the system fails to properly erase data from previously deleted virtual machines before reassigning that storage space to a new user. This could allow a malicious user to read sensitive data belonging to a previous customer, potentially leading to the exposure of private files, credentials, or configuration data.

Technologies: [nova (PyPI)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/pypi-nova). Vendors: [PyPI](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/pypi).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2012-5625 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2012-5625 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2012-5625?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 4.3, published 17 May 2022.

**Which products and versions are affected?** nova (PyPI) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0,fixed=12.0.0a0, GIT:introduced=0,fixed=a99a802e008eed18e39fc1d98170edc495cbd354,fixed=9d2ea970422591f8cdc394001be9a2deca499a5f|ECOSYSTEM:introduced=0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2012-5625?** Yes. nova (PyPI): upgrade to 12.0.0a0 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2012-5625 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2012-5625?** Check whether you run nova (PyPI) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- nova (PyPI): upgrade to 12.0.0a0 or later

  ```sh
  pip install "nova>=12.0.0a0"
  ```


## Technical details

An information disclosure vulnerability exists in OpenStack Compute (Nova) when using the libvirt driver with LVM-backed instances. The root cause is located in the `create_lvm_image` function (and related LVM management utilities), which fails to zero-out or otherwise sanitize blocks on a Physical Volume (PV) when a Logical Volume (LV) is deleted and its space is reallocated to a new instance. Because LVM performs linear mappings, the new LV may contain residual data from the previous occupant. An attacker provisioned on a newly created LV can read the raw block device to recover sensitive information from the previous tenant. The fix involves implementing a mandatory wipe (zeroing) of the logical volume during the removal process.

## Affected products

- OpenStack Nova < 12.0.0a0

## Identifiers

- CVE-2012-5625
- GHSA-rwhr-h69g-8qmq
- PYSEC-2012-41
- PYSEC-2012-42

## Timeline

- 2012-10-23: disclosed: Bug reported on Launchpad
- 2012-12-11: advisory: OpenStack Security Advisory (OSSA 2012-020) issued
- 2012-12-26: advisory: NVD published CVE-2012-5625

## References

- [https://github.com/openstack/nova/commit/9d2ea970422591f8cdc394001be9a2deca499a5f](https://github.com/openstack/nova/commit/9d2ea970422591f8cdc394001be9a2deca499a5f)
- [https://github.com/openstack/nova/commit/a99a802e008eed18e39fc1d98170edc495cbd354](https://github.com/openstack/nova/commit/a99a802e008eed18e39fc1d98170edc495cbd354)
- [https://bugs.launchpad.net/nova/+bug/1070539](https://bugs.launchpad.net/nova/+bug/1070539)
- [https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=884293](https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=884293)
- [https://launchpad.net/nova/folsom/2012.2.2](https://launchpad.net/nova/folsom/2012.2.2)

## Related threats

- [PYSEC-2026-2493 - OpenStack Cinder, Glance, and Nova vulnerable to arbitrary file access](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2024-32498-openstack-cinder-glance-and-nova-vulnerable-to-arbitrary-file)
- [PYSEC-2026-1709 - OpenStack Nova vulnerable to unauthorized access to potentially sensitive data](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2024-40767-openstack-nova-vulnerable-to-unauthorized-access-to-potentially)
- [PYSEC-2026-868 - OpenStack Cinder, glance, and Nova vulnerable to Path Traversal](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2022-47951-openstack-cinder-glance-and-nova-vulnerable-to-path-traversal)
- [PYSEC-2026-882 - OpenStack Nova Changing vnic_type breaks compute service restart](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2022-37394-openstack-nova-changing-vnic-type-breaks-compute-service-restart)
- [PYSEC-2026-857 - OpenStack Nova can leak consoleauth token into log files](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2015-9543-openstack-nova-consoleauth-token-leak-into-log-files)