Description
xattr.c in the ext2 and ext3 file system code for Linux kernel 2.6 does not properly compare the name_index fields when sharing xattr blocks, which could prevent default ACLs from being applied.
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 | 2.4.21-40.EL | RHSA-2006:0144 |
Advisories 4
- RHSA-2006:0144 Red Hat Security Advisory: Updated kernel packages available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 Update 7 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
- 18056 third-party-advisory
- 17073 third-party-advisory
- RHSA-2006:0144 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SA:2005:018 vendor-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:10495 vdb-entry signature
- 18059 third-party-advisory
- [Acl-Devel] 20050205 [FIX] Long-standing xattr sharing bug mailing-list
- [debian-kernel] 20050809 Re: ACL patches in Debian 2.4 series kernel. mailing-list
- DSA-922 vendor-advisory
- DSA-921 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2005:514 vendor-advisory
- 17826 third-party-advisory
- FLSA:157459-3 vendor-advisory
- MDKSA-2005:219 vendor-advisory
- 14793 vdb-entry
- 19252 third-party-advisory