Description
Off-by-one error in the iov_iter_advance function in mm/filemap.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.27-rc2 allows local users to cause a denial of service (system crash) via a certain sequence of file I/O operations with readv and writev, as demonstrated by testcases/kernel/fs/ftest/ftest03 from the Linux Test Project.
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-2.6.24 | 2.6.24-6~etchnhalf.5 | DSA-1636-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat MRG 1 | kernel-rt +9 | 2.6.24.7-81.el5rt | RHSA-2008:0857 |
Advisories 2
- DSA-1636-1 linux-2.6.24 - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- RHSA-2008:0857 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Nov 22, 2025
References
- 32190 third-party-advisory
- 32393 third-party-advisory
- DSA-1636 vendor-advisory
- 31132 vdb-entry
- linux-kernel-ioviteradvance-dos(44492) vdb-entry
- 31881 third-party-advisory
- USN-659-1 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2008:0857 vendor-advisory
- [linux-kernel] 20080730 2.6.27-rc1: IP: iov_iter_advance+0x2e/0x90 mailing-list
- http://mirror.celinuxforum.org/gitstat/commit-detail.php?commit=94ad374a0751f40d25e22e036c37f7263569d24c
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/testing/ChangeLog-2.6.27-rc2