Description
The md driver (drivers/md/md.c) in the Linux kernel before 2.6.30.2 might allow local users to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference) via vectors related to "suspend_* sysfs attributes" and the (1) suspend_lo_store or (2) suspend_hi_store functions. NOTE: this is only a vulnerability when sysfs is writable by an attacker.
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 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5 | kernel +12 | 2.6.18-164.2.1.el5 | RHSA-2009:1455 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat MRG 1 | kernel-rt +9 | 2.6.24.7-137.el5rt | RHSA-2009:1540 |
Advisories 4
- RHSA-2009:1540 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2009:1455 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- 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
- RHSA-2009:1540 vendor-advisory
- 1022961 vdb-entry
- USN-852-1 vendor-advisory
- 38794 third-party-advisory
- [security-announce] 20100303 VMSA-2010-0004 ESX Service Console and vMA third party updates mailing-list
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.30.2
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:10396 vdb-entry signature
- FEDORA-2009-9044 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20090726 Re: md raid null ptr dereference (when sysfs is writable) mailing-list
- 38834 third-party-advisory
- http://xorl.wordpress.com/2009/07/21/linux-kernel-md-driver-null-pointer-dereference/
- kernel-mddriver-dos(52858) vdb-entry
- [oss-security] 20090724 md raid null ptr dereference (when sysfs is writable) mailing-list
- 36501 third-party-advisory
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/stable/linux-2.6.30.y.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=3c92900d9a4afb176d3de335dc0da0198660a244
- 37105 third-party-advisory
- ADV-2010-0528 vdb-entry