Description
The sysfs_readdir function in the Linux kernel 2.6, as used in Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 4.5 and other distributions, allows users to cause a denial of service (kernel OOPS) by dereferencing a null pointer to an inode in a dentry.
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 | fai-kernels | 1.17+etch.13etch5 | DSA-1428-1 |
| Debian 4.0 | linux-2.6 | 2.6.18.dfsg.1-13etch5 | DSA-1428-1 |
| Debian 4.0 | user-mode-linux | 2.6.18-1um-2etch.13etch5 | DSA-1428-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5 | kernel +12 | 2.6.18-53.1.6.el5 | RHSA-2008:0089 |
| RHEL 4 | kernel +10 | 2.6.9-55.0.2.EL | RHSA-2007:0488 |
Advisories 3
- RHSA-2008:0089 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2007:0488 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-1428-1 fai-kernels linux-2.6 user-mode-linux - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 1018289 vdb-entry
- 26643 third-party-advisory
- 28643 third-party-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:11233 vdb-entry signature
- 26651 third-party-advisory
- 26289 third-party-advisory
- 25838 third-party-advisory
- USN-510-1 vendor-advisory
- USN-509-1 vendor-advisory
- 24631 vdb-entry
- DSA-1428 vendor-advisory
- 27912 third-party-advisory
- 25771 third-party-advisory
- 28033 third-party-advisory
- 37115 vdb-entry
- SUSE-SA:2007:064 vendor-advisory
- http://support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2007-287.htm
- http://bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=242558
- RHSA-2008:0089 vendor-advisory
- USN-508-1 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2007:0488 vendor-advisory