Description
The key serial number collision avoidance code in the key_alloc_serial function in Linux kernel 2.6.9 up to 2.6.20 allows local users to cause a denial of service (crash) via vectors that trigger a null dereference, as originally reported as "spinlock CPU recursion."
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 5 | kernel +10 | 2.6.18-8.1.1.el5 | RHSA-2007:0099 |
| RHEL 4 | kernel +8 | 2.6.9-42.0.10.EL | RHSA-2007:0085 |
Advisories 2
- RHSA-2007:0099 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2007:0085 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
References
- RHSA-2007:0099 vendor-advisory
- 24429 third-party-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=227495
- http://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=7727
- 24259 third-party-advisory
- USN-451-1 vendor-advisory
- MDKSA-2007:047 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SA:2007:021 vendor-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:9829 vdb-entry signature
- 24300 third-party-advisory
- 20070615 rPSA-2007-0124-1 kernel xen mailing-list
- 24482 third-party-advisory
- RHSA-2007:0085 vendor-advisory
- 24752 third-party-advisory
- 24547 third-party-advisory
- 24109 third-party-advisory
- https://issues.rpath.com/browse/RPL-1097
- 22539 vdb-entry
- 25691 third-party-advisory
- MDKSA-2007:060 vendor-advisory