Description
arch/s390/kernel/ptrace.c in Linux kernel 2.6.9, and other versions before 2.6.27-rc6, on s390 platforms allows local users to cause a denial of service (kernel panic) via the user-area-padding test from the ptrace testsuite in 31-bit mode, which triggers an invalid dereference.
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.22etch3 | DSA-1653-1 |
| Debian 4.0 | linux-2.6 | 2.6.18.dfsg.1-22etch3 | DSA-1653-1 |
| Debian 4.0 | linux-2.6.24 | 2.6.24-6~etchnhalf.6 | DSA-1655-1 |
| Debian 4.0 | user-mode-linux | 2.6.18-1um-2etch.22etch3 | DSA-1653-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 4 | kernel +10 | 2.6.9-78.0.8.EL | RHSA-2008:0972 |
Advisories 3
- RHSA-2008:0972 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-1653-1 fai-kernels linux-2.6 user-mode-linux - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-1655-1 linux-2.6.24 - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/utrace/tests
- 31826 third-party-advisory
- DSA-1655 vendor-advisory
- 31177 vdb-entry
- 32237 third-party-advisory
- RHSA-2008:0972 vendor-advisory
- http://kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/testing/ChangeLog-2.6.27-rc6
- http://kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.26.6
- DSA-1653 vendor-advisory
- 32356 third-party-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=438147
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=3d6e48f43340343d97839eadb1ab7b6a3ea98797
- linux-kernel-ptrace-dos(41501) vdb-entry
- SUSE-SA:2008:051 vendor-advisory
- 32799 third-party-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:9555 vdb-entry signature
- 32315 third-party-advisory