Description
Linux kernel 2.6.15.1 and earlier, when running on SPARC architectures, allows local users to cause a denial of service (hang) via a "date -s" command, which causes invalid sign extended arguments to be provided to the get_compat_timespec function call.
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 |
Advisories 1
- DSA-1017-1 kernel-source-2.6.8 - several Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- [linux-sparc] 20060130 Attempts to set date with 'date -s' hang the machine mailing-list
- [linux-sparc] 20060130 Re: Attempts to set date with 'date -s' hang the machine mailing-list
- [debian-sparc] 20060128 `date -s' on sparc64 mailing-list
- kernel-date-s-dos(24475) vdb-entry
- 17216 vdb-entry
- ADV-2006-0418 vdb-entry
- DSA-1017 vendor-advisory
- 19374 third-party-advisory