Description
Multiple race conditions in fs/pipe.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.32-rc6 allow local users to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and system crash) or gain privileges by attempting to open an anonymous pipe via a /proc/*/fd/ pathname.
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 | 2.6.26-19lenny2 | DSA-1927-1 |
| 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 |
| RHEL 4 | kernel +10 | 2.6.9-89.0.16.EL | RHSA-2009:1541 |
| RHEL 3 | kernel +8 | 2.4.21-63.EL | RHSA-2009:1550 |
Show 4 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5.3 EUS | kernel +12 | 2.6.18-128.11.1.el5 | RHSA-2009:1587 |
| RHEL 5.2 EUS | kernel +12 | 2.6.18-92.1.32.el5 | RHSA-2009:1672 |
| RHEL 4.7 EUS | kernel +10 | 2.6.9-78.0.28.EL | RHSA-2009:1588 |
| Red Hat MRG 1 | kernel-rt +9 | 2.6.24.7-137.el5rt | RHSA-2009:1540 |
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.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 5
- Linux Kernel 2.6.10 < 2.6.31.5 - 'pipe.c' Local Privilege Escalation EDB-40812 · local · Dec 16, 2013
- Linux Kernel 2.6.32 - 'pipe.c' Local Privilege Escalation (4) EDB-10018 · local · Nov 12, 2009 · verified
- Linux Kernel 2.4.1 < 2.4.37 / 2.6.1 < 2.6.32-rc5 - 'pipe.c' Local Privilege Escalation (3) EDB-9844 · local · Nov 5, 2009 · verified
- Linux Kernel 2.6.0 < 2.6.31 - 'pipe.c' Local Privilege Escalation (1) EDB-33321 · local · Nov 3, 2009 · verified
- Linux Kernel 2.6.x - 'pipe.c' Local Privilege Escalation (2) EDB-33322 · local · Nov 3, 2009 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 10
- RHSA-2009:1548 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2009:1540 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2009:1672 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2009:1587 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2009:1588 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2009:1550 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2009:1541 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- DSA-1929-1 linux-2.6 - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-1927-1 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
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:11513 vdb-entry signature
- RHSA-2009:1672 vendor-advisory
- 20100625 VMSA-2010-0010 ESX 3.5 third party update for Service Console kernel mailing-list
- 36901 vdb-entry
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=ad3960243e55320d74195fb85c975e0a8cc4466c
- RHSA-2009:1540 vendor-advisory
- USN-864-1 vendor-advisory
- 38794 third-party-advisory
- [security-announce] 20100303 VMSA-2010-0004 ESX Service Console and vMA third party updates mailing-list
- [linux-kernel] 20091021 Re: [PATCH v4 1/1]: fs: pipe.c null pointer dereference + really sign off + unmangled diffs mailing-list
- SUSE-SA:2010:001 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2009:1541 vendor-advisory
- MDVSA-2009:329 vendor-advisory
- 37351 third-party-advisory
- SUSE-SA:2009:056 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SA:2010:012 vendor-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:7608 vdb-entry signature
- [oss-security] 20091103 CVE-2009-3547 kernel: fs: pipe.c null pointer dereference mailing-list
- RHSA-2009:1548 vendor-advisory
- 38834 third-party-advisory
- [linux-kernel] 20091014 fs/pipe.c null pointer dereference mailing-list
- RHSA-2009:1550 vendor-advisory
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/testing/ChangeLog-2.6.32-rc6
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:9327 vdb-entry signature
- SUSE-SA:2009:054 vendor-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=530490
- 38017 third-party-advisory
- FEDORA-2009-11038 vendor-advisory
- ADV-2010-0528 vdb-entry