Description
arch/i386/kernel/sysenter.c in the Virtual Dynamic Shared Objects (vDSO) implementation in the Linux kernel before 2.6.21 does not properly check boundaries, which allows local users to gain privileges or cause a denial of service via unspecified vectors, related to the install_special_mapping, syscall, and syscall32_nopage functions.
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.23etch1 | DSA-1687-1 |
| Debian 4.0 | linux-2.6 | 2.6.18.dfsg.1-23etch1 | DSA-1687-1 |
| Debian 4.0 | user-mode-linux | 2.6.18-1um-2etch.23etch1 | DSA-1687-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5 | kernel +12 | 2.6.18-92.1.18.el5 | RHSA-2008:0957 |
Advisories 2
- RHSA-2008:0957 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- DSA-1687-1 fai-kernels linux-2.6 user-mode-linux - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 32485 third-party-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:10602 vdb-entry signature
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=7d91d531900bfa1165d445390b3b13a8013f98f7
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.21
- RHSA-2008:0957 vendor-advisory
- 1021137 vdb-entry
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=460251
- DSA-1687 vendor-advisory
- 32759 third-party-advisory
- 33180 third-party-advisory
- SUSE-SR:2008:025 vendor-advisory