Description
The audit system in Linux kernel 2.6.6, and other versions before 2.6.13.4, when CONFIG_AUDITSYSCALL is enabled, uses an incorrect function to free names_cache memory, which prevents the memory from being tracked by AUDITSYSCALL code and leads to a memory leak that allows attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption).
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-source-2.6.8 | 2.6.8-16sarge2 | DSA-1017-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 4 | kernel +6 | 2.6.9-22.0.1.EL | RHSA-2005:808 |
Advisories 2
- RHSA-2005:808 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-1017-1 kernel-source-2.6.8 - several Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- MDKSA-2005:235 vendor-advisory
- 15076 vdb-entry
- RHSA-2005:808 vendor-advisory
- 17917 third-party-advisory
- SUSE-SA:2005:067 vendor-advisory
- MDKSA-2005:220 vendor-advisory
- 17364 third-party-advisory
- http://linux.bkbits.net:8080/linux-2.6/cset%404346883bQBeBd26syWTKX2CVC5bDcA
- MDKSA-2005:218 vendor-advisory
- http://kernel.org/git/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=829841146878e082613a49581ae252c071057c23
- 17280 third-party-advisory
- 17826 third-party-advisory
- USN-199-1 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2005-1007 vendor-advisory
- FLSA:157459-3 vendor-advisory
- DSA-1017 vendor-advisory
- MDKSA-2005:219 vendor-advisory
- 17114 third-party-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:9467 vdb-entry signature
- 19374 third-party-advisory