Description
Linux kernel 2.6.28 allows local users to cause a denial of service ("soft lockup" and process loss) via a large number of sendmsg function calls, which does not block during AF_UNIX garbage collection and triggers an OOM condition, a different vulnerability than CVE-2008-5029.
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.el5 | RHSA-2009:0225 |
| RHEL 4 | kernel +10 | 2.6.9-78.0.13.EL | RHSA-2009:0014 |
| RHEL 3 | kernel +8 | 2.4.21-63.EL | RHSA-2009:1550 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5.2 EUS | kernel +12 | 2.6.18-92.1.24.el5 | RHSA-2009:0021 |
| Red Hat MRG 1 | kernel-rt +9 | 2.6.24.7-101.el5rt | RHSA-2009:0053 |
Advisories 7
- RHSA-2009:1550 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2009:0225 Red Hat Security Advisory: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.3 kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2009:0053 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2009:0021 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
- 20081209 rPSA-2008-0332-1 kernel mailing-list
- [linux-netdev] 20081120 soft lockups/OOM after unix socket fixes mailing-list
- 20100625 VMSA-2010-0010 ESX 3.5 third party update for Service Console kernel mailing-list
- 33706 third-party-advisory
- https://issues.rpath.com/browse/RPL-2915
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:10283 vdb-entry signature
- RHSA-2009:0053 vendor-advisory
- 33756 third-party-advisory
- FEDORA-2008-11618 vendor-advisory
- 33348 third-party-advisory
- 32913 third-party-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:11427 vdb-entry signature
- 4673 third-party-advisory
- [linux-netdev] 20081125 [PATCH] Fix soft lockups/OOM issues w/ unix garbage collector mailing-list
- RHSA-2009:0014 vendor-advisory
- linux-kernel-sendmsg-dos(46943) vdb-entry
- 32516 vdb-entry
- MDVSA-2009:032 vendor-advisory
- 33556 third-party-advisory
- http://bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=473259
- http://wiki.rpath.com/wiki/Advisories:rPSA-2008-0332
- 33083 third-party-advisory
- USN-714-1 vendor-advisory
- 50272 vdb-entry
- RHSA-2009:1550 vendor-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=470201
- USN-715-1 vendor-advisory
- 33854 third-party-advisory
- DSA-1681 vendor-advisory