Description
Buffer overflow in sysctl in the Linux Kernel 2.6 before 2.6.15 allows local users to corrupt user memory and possibly cause a denial of service via a long string, which causes sysctl to write a zero byte outside the buffer. NOTE: since the sysctl is called from a userland program that provides the argument, this might not be a vulnerability, unless a legitimate user-assisted or setuid scenario can be identified.
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-2.4.27 | 2.4.27-10sarge2 | DSA-1018-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-source-2.6.8 | 2.6.8-16sarge2 | DSA-1017-1 |
Advisories 2
- DSA-1017-1 kernel-source-2.6.8 - several Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-1018-1 kernel-source-2.4.27 - several Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- http://www.kernel.org/git/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=8febdd85adaa41fa1fc1cb31286210fc2cd3ed0c
- MDKSA-2006:040 vendor-advisory
- 19369 third-party-advisory
- DSA-1018 vendor-advisory
- 16141 vdb-entry
- ADV-2006-0035 vdb-entry
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.15
- 18216 third-party-advisory
- http://kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.15
- DSA-1017 vendor-advisory
- USN-244-1 vendor-advisory
- 18527 third-party-advisory
- 19374 third-party-advisory