Description
NFSv4 in the Linux kernel 2.6.18, and possibly other versions, does not properly clean up an inode when an O_EXCL create fails, which causes files to be created with insecure settings such as setuid bits, and possibly allows local users to gain privileges, related to the execution of the do_open_permission function even when a create fails.
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 | 2.6.18.dfsg.1-26etch1 | DSA-1929-1 |
| 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 4
- RHSA-2009:1548 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- DSA-1929-1 linux-2.6 - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 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
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:9757 vdb-entry signature
- SUSE-SA:2010:012 vendor-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:7527 vdb-entry signature
- RHSA-2009:1548 vendor-advisory
- 38834 third-party-advisory
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=81ac95c5
- [oss-security] 20090921 CVE request: kernel: issue with O_EXCL creates on NFSv4 mailing-list
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=524520
- 37105 third-party-advisory
- ADV-2010-0528 vdb-entry