Description
The huft_build function in inflate.c in the zlib routines in the Linux kernel before 2.6.12.5 returns the wrong value, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (kernel crash) via a certain compressed file that leads to a null pointer dereference, a different vulnerability than CVE-2005-2458.
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 |
Advisories 2
- 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
- 18059 third-party-advisory
- SUSE-SA:2005:068 vendor-advisory
- DSA-922 vendor-advisory
- DSA-921 vendor-advisory
- 17826 third-party-advisory
- http://kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.12.5
- 14720 vdb-entry
- 17918 third-party-advisory
- MDKSA-2005:219 vendor-advisory
- 16355 third-party-advisory
- http://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=94584