Description
Integer overflow in sys_epoll_wait in eventpoll.c for Linux kernel 2.6 to 2.6.11 allows local users to overwrite kernel memory via a large number of events.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 4 | kernel +6 | 2.6.9-5.0.5.EL | RHSA-2005:366 |
| RHEL 3 | kernel +8 | 2.4.21-27.0.4.EL | RHSA-2005:293 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 2
- Linux Kernel 2.6.9 < 2.6.11 (RHEL 4) - 'SYS_EPoll_Wait' Local Integer Overflow / Local Privilege Escalation EDB-1397 · local · Dec 30, 2005 · verified
- Linux Kernel 2.6.x - 'SYS_EPoll_Wait' Local Integer Overflow / Local Privilege Escalation (1) EDB-25202 · local · Mar 9, 2005 · verified
GitHub 1 repository
-
0b0111100/2005 ★ 0 · Sep 7, 2026
Linux Kernel Exploits -> CVE-2005-0736 + CVE-2005-1263
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 2
- RHSA-2005:366 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2005:293 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
References
- RHSA-2005:366 vendor-advisory
- 12763 vdb-entry
- http://linux.bkbits.net:8080/linux-2.6/cset%40422dd06a1p5PsyFhoGAJseinjEq3ew?nav=index.html%7CChangeSet%40-1d
- SUSE-SA:2005:018 vendor-advisory
- 20050309 overwriting low kernel memory mailing-list
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:9870 vdb-entry signature
- RHSA-2005:293 vendor-advisory
- USN-95-1 vendor-advisory