Description
Integer underflow in the cpuset_tasks_read function in the Linux kernel before 2.6.20.13, and 2.6.21.x before 2.6.21.4, when the cpuset filesystem is mounted, allows local users to obtain kernel memory contents by using a large offset when reading the /dev/cpuset/tasks file.
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 4.0 | linux-2.6 | 2.6.18.dfsg.1-13etch2 | DSA-1363-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5 | kernel +10 | 2.6.18-8.1.10.el5 | RHSA-2007:0705 |
Advisories 2
- RHSA-2007:0705 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-1363-1 linux-2.6 Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 20070607 Linux Kernel cpuset tasks Information Disclosure Vulnerability third-party-advisory
- http://kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.21.4
- 27227 third-party-advisory
- ADV-2007-2105 vdb-entry
- SUSE-SA:2007:053 vendor-advisory
- 24389 vdb-entry
- DSA-1363 vendor-advisory
- http://kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.20.13
- 37113 vdb-entry
- MDKSA-2007:171 vendor-advisory
- USN-510-1 vendor-advisory
- 26647 third-party-advisory
- 26760 third-party-advisory
- RHSA-2007:0705 vendor-advisory
- 26620 third-party-advisory
- USN-489-1 vendor-advisory
- MDKSA-2007:196 vendor-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:9251 vdb-entry signature
- kernel-cpusettasksread-info-disclosure(34779) vdb-entry
- 1018211 vdb-entry
- USN-486-1 vendor-advisory
- 26139 third-party-advisory
- 26133 third-party-advisory