Description
The sys_add_key function in the keyring code in Linux kernel 2.6.16.1 and 2.6.17-rc1, and possibly earlier versions, allows local users to cause a denial of service (OOPS) via keyctl requests that add a key to a user key instead of a keyring key, which causes an invalid dereference in the __keyring_search_one function.
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.
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 4 | kernel +8 | 2.6.9-34.0.1.EL | RHSA-2006:0493 |
Advisories 1
- RHSA-2006:0493 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
References
- http://support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2006-161.htm
- RHSA-2006:0493 vendor-advisory
- 19735 third-party-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=188466
- linux-keyringsearchone-dos(25722) vdb-entry
- 20716 third-party-advisory
- FEDORA-2006-423 vendor-advisory
- 21745 third-party-advisory
- USN-302-1 vendor-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:9325 vdb-entry signature
- 24507 vdb-entry
- 19573 third-party-advisory
- ADV-2006-1307 vdb-entry
- http://www.kernel.org/git/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=c3a9d6541f84ac3ff566982d08389b87c1c36b4e
- 17451 vdb-entry
- ADV-2006-1475 vdb-entry
- http://kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.16.3
- 20237 third-party-advisory
- MDKSA-2006:086 vendor-advisory
- 20157 third-party-advisory