Description
The eisa_eeprom_read function in the parisc isa-eeprom component (drivers/parisc/eisa_eeprom.c) in the Linux kernel before 2.6.31-rc6 allows local users to access restricted memory via a negative ppos argument, which bypasses a check that assumes that ppos is positive and causes an out-of-bounds read in the readb function.
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.24etch4 | DSA-1872-1 |
| Debian 4.0 | linux-2.6 | 2.6.18.dfsg.1-24etch4 | DSA-1872-1 |
| Debian 4.0 | linux-2.6.24 | 2.6.24-6~etchnhalf.9etch1 | DSA-1928-1 |
| Debian 4.0 | user-mode-linux | 2.6.18-1um-2etch.24etch4 | DSA-1872-1 |
Advisories 2
- DSA-1872-1 fai-kernels linux-2.6 user-mode-linux - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-1928-1 linux-2.6.24 - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- [oss-security] 20090810 CVE request: kernel: parisc: isa-eeprom missing lower bound check mailing-list
- USN-852-1 vendor-advisory
- MDVSA-2010:198 vendor-advisory
- kernel-eisaeepromread-sec-bypass(52906) vdb-entry
- [oss-security] 20090818 Re: CVE request: kernel: parisc: isa-eeprom missing lower bound check mailing-list
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=6b4dbcd86a9d464057fcc7abe4d0574093071fcc
- 37105 third-party-advisory