Description
fs/ecryptfs/inode.c in the eCryptfs subsystem in the Linux kernel before 2.6.28.1 allows local users to cause a denial of service (fault or memory corruption), or possibly have unspecified other impact, via a readlink call that results in an error, leading to use of a -1 return value as an array index.
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 5.0 | linux-2.6 | 2.6.26-13lenny2 | DSA-1749-1 |
| Debian 4.0 | linux-2.6.24 | 2.6.24-6~etchnhalf.8etch1 | DSA-1787-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5 | kernel +12 | 2.6.18-128.1.6.el5 | RHSA-2009:0326 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat MRG 1 | kernel-rt +9 | 2.6.24.7-108.el5rt | RHSA-2009:0360 |
Advisories 4
- RHSA-2009:0326 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- DSA-1787-1 linux-2.6.24 - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-1749-1 linux-2.6 - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- RHSA-2009:0360 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Nov 22, 2025
References
- 35390 third-party-advisory
- 34502 third-party-advisory
- RHSA-2009:0326 vendor-advisory
- MDVSA-2009:118 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SA:2009:010 vendor-advisory
- 37471 third-party-advisory
- RHSA-2009:0360 vendor-advisory
- [ecryptfs-devel] 20081222 Re: [PATCH, v5] eCryptfs: check readlink result was not an error before using it mailing-list
- http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2009-0016.html
- DSA-1749 vendor-advisory
- 33758 third-party-advisory
- SUSE-SA:2009:030 vendor-advisory
- USN-751-1 vendor-advisory
- [ecryptfs-devel] 20081222 Re: [PATCH, v5] eCryptfs: check readlink result was not an error before using it mailing-list
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:8169 vdb-entry signature
- 20091120 VMSA-2009-0016 VMware vCenter and ESX update release and vMA patch release address multiple security issue in third party components mailing-list
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.28.1
- SUSE-SA:2009:031 vendor-advisory
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/stable/linux-2.6.27.y.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=a17d5232de7b53d34229de79ec22f4bb04adb7e4
- 34981 third-party-advisory
- 34394 third-party-advisory
- DSA-1787 vendor-advisory
- linux-kernel-readlink-bo(48188) vdb-entry
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:8944 vdb-entry signature
- 33412 vdb-entry
- ADV-2009-3316 vdb-entry
- 35394 third-party-advisory