Description
The d_delete function in fs/ecryptfs/inode.c in eCryptfs in the Linux kernel 2.6.31 allows local users to cause a denial of service (kernel OOPS) and possibly execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors that cause a "negative dentry" and trigger a NULL pointer dereference, as demonstrated via a Mutt temporary directory in an eCryptfs mount.
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 | 2.6.26-19lenny1 | DSA-1915-1 |
| Debian 4.0 | linux-2.6.24 | 2.6.24-6~etchnhalf.9etch1 | DSA-1928-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5 | kernel +12 | 2.6.18-164.6.1.el5 | RHSA-2009:1548 |
Advisories 3
- RHSA-2009:1548 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- DSA-1915-1 linux-2.6 - 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
- 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
- kernel-ecryptfs-dos(53693) vdb-entry
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:10216 vdb-entry signature
- 37075 third-party-advisory
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/stable/linux-2.6.31.y.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=afc2b6932f48f200736d3e36ad66fee0ec733136
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=527534
- https://bugs.launchpad.net/ecryptfs/+bug/387073
- RHSA-2009:1548 vendor-advisory
- 38834 third-party-advisory
- FEDORA-2009-10525 vendor-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:6992 vdb-entry signature
- [oss-security] 20091006 Kernel ecryptfs CVE id (CVE-2009-2908) mailing-list
- 36639 vdb-entry
- 37105 third-party-advisory
- ADV-2010-0528 vdb-entry