Description
Array index overflow in the xfrm_sk_policy_insert function in xfrm_user.c in Linux kernel 2.6 allows local users to cause a denial of service (oops or deadlock) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a p->dir value that is larger than XFRM_POLICY_OUT, which is used as an index in the sock->sk_policy array.
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.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-image-2.4.27-arm +1 | 2.4.27-2sarge1 | DSA-921-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-image-2.4.27-m68k | 2.4.27-3sarge1 | DSA-921-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-image-2.4.27-sparc | 2.4.27-9sarge1 | DSA-921-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-image-2.6.8-hppa | 2.6.8-6sarge1 | DSA-922-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-image-2.6.8-ia64 | 2.6.8-14sarge1 | DSA-922-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-image-2.6.8-m68k | 2.6.8-4sarge1 | DSA-922-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-image-2.6.8-s390 | 2.6.8-5sarge1 | DSA-922-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-image-2.6.8-sparc | 2.6.8-15sarge1 | DSA-922-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-patch-2.4.27-arm | 2.4.27-1sarge1 | DSA-921-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-patch-2.4.27-mips | 2.4.27-10.sarge1.040815-1 | DSA-921-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-patch-powerpc-2.6.8 | 2.6.8-12sarge1 | DSA-922-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-source-2.4.27 +4 | 2.4.27-10sarge1 | DSA-921-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-source-2.6.8 +3 | 2.6.8-16sarge1 | DSA-922-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 4 | kernel +6 | 2.6.9-22.EL | RHSA-2005:514 |
| RHEL 3 | kernel +8 | 2.4.21-37.EL | RHSA-2005:663 |
Advisories 4
- RHSA-2005:663 Red Hat Security Advisory: Updated kernel packages available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 Update 6 Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2005:514 Red Hat Security Advisory: Updated kernel packages available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 Update 2 Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-921-1 kernel-source-2.4.27 - several Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-922-1 kernel-source-2.6.8 - several Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- SUSE-SA:2005:050 vendor-advisory
- 18056 third-party-advisory
- USN-169-1 vendor-advisory
- 16500 third-party-advisory
- MDKSA-2005:220 vendor-advisory
- 17073 third-party-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:10858 vdb-entry signature
- 18059 third-party-advisory
- DSA-922 vendor-advisory
- linux-kernel-xfrm-dos(21710) vdb-entry
- 14477 vdb-entry
- http://www.mail-archive.com/netdev%40vger.kernel.org/msg00520.html
- http://www.kernel.org/git/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=blobdiff%3Bh=8da3e25b2c4c1f305fd85428d3a9eb62b543bfba%3Bhp=ecade4893a139cc35d4fe345ce70242ede5358c4%3Bhb=a4f1bac62564049ea4718c4624b0fadc9f597c84%3Bf=net/xfrm/xfrm_user.c
- DSA-921 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2005:514 vendor-advisory
- http://www.kernel.org/git/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=a4f1bac62564049ea4718c4624b0fadc9f597c84
- 17002 third-party-advisory
- 17826 third-party-advisory
- 16298 third-party-advisory
- FLSA:157459-3 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2005:663 vendor-advisory
- MDKSA-2005:219 vendor-advisory
- ADV-2005-1878 vdb-entry