Description
The hfsplus_block_allocate function in fs/hfsplus/bitmap.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.28-rc1 does not check a certain return value from the read_mapping_page function before calling kmap, which allows attackers to cause a denial of service (system crash) via a crafted hfsplus filesystem image.
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 | linux-2.6.24 | 2.6.24-6~etchnhalf.7 | DSA-1681-1 |
| 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 | 2.6.18-128.1.1.el5 | RHSA-2009:0264 |
| RHEL 4 | kernel +10 | 2.6.9-78.0.13.EL | RHSA-2009:0014 |
Advisories 4
- RHSA-2009:0264 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2009:0014 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-1687-1 fai-kernels linux-2.6 user-mode-linux - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-1681-1 linux-2.6.24 - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 32998 third-party-advisory
- MDVSA-2008:234 vendor-advisory
- linux-kernel-hfsplus-dos(46327) vdb-entry
- RHSA-2009:0014 vendor-advisory
- 33556 third-party-advisory
- DSA-1687 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2009:0264 vendor-advisory
- 32918 third-party-advisory
- 33858 third-party-advisory
- USN-679-1 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20081103 CVE requests: kernel: hfsplus-related bugs mailing-list
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/stable/linux-2.6.27.y.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=649f1ee6c705aab644035a7998d7b574193a598a
- 32510 third-party-advisory
- 33180 third-party-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:11635 vdb-entry signature
- 32096 vdb-entry
- http://kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/testing/ChangeLog-2.6.28-rc1
- DSA-1681 vendor-advisory