Description
The inode double locking code in fs/ocfs2/file.c in the Linux kernel 2.6.30 before 2.6.30-rc3, 2.6.27 before 2.6.27.24, 2.6.29 before 2.6.29.4, and possibly other versions down to 2.6.19 allows local users to cause a denial of service (prevention of file creation and removal) via a series of splice system calls that trigger a deadlock between the generic_file_splice_write, splice_from_pipe, and ocfs2_file_splice_write 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 | linux-2.6.24 | 2.6.24-6~etchnhalf.8etch2 | DSA-1844-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat MRG 1 | kernel-rt +9 | 2.6.24.7-126.el5rt | RHSA-2009:1157 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Exploit-DB 1
- Linux Kernel 2.6.x - 'splice(2)' Double Lock Local Denial of Service EDB-33015 · dos · May 29, 2009 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 2
- RHSA-2009:1157 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- DSA-1844-1 linux-2.6.24 - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 35390 third-party-advisory
- MDVSA-2009:135 vendor-advisory
- MDVSA-2009:148 vendor-advisory
- 35656 third-party-advisory
- DSA-1844 vendor-advisory
- 1022307 vdb-entry
- [oss-security] 20090602 Re: CVE request: kernel: splice local denial of service mailing-list
- RHSA-2009:1157 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SA:2009:030 vendor-advisory
- 36051 third-party-advisory
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=7bfac9ecf0585962fe13584f5cf526d8c8e76f17
- SUSE-SA:2009:031 vendor-advisory
- USN-793-1 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20090530 Re: CVE request: kernel: splice local denial of service mailing-list
- 35143 vdb-entry
- [oss-security] 20090603 Re: CVE request: kernel: splice local denial of service mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20090529 CVE request: kernel: splice local denial of service mailing-list
- SUSE-SA:2009:038 vendor-advisory
- 35394 third-party-advisory
- 35847 third-party-advisory