Description
The print_fatal_signal function in kernel/signal.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.32.4 on the i386 platform, when print-fatal-signals is enabled, allows local users to discover the contents of arbitrary memory locations by jumping to an address and then reading a log file, and might allow local users to cause a denial of service (system slowdown or crash) by jumping to an address.
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 | 2.6.26-21lenny3 | DSA-1996-1 |
| Debian 4.0 | linux-2.6.24 | 2.6.24-6~etchnhalf.9etch3 | DSA-2005-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5 | kernel +12 | 2.6.18-164.15.1.el5 | RHSA-2010:0147 |
| RHEL 4 | kernel +10 | 2.6.9-89.0.23.EL | RHSA-2010:0146 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat MRG 1 | kernel-rt +9 | 2.6.24.7-149.el5rt | RHSA-2010:0161 |
Advisories 5
- RHSA-2010:0147 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2010:0146 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2010:0161 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- DSA-1996-1 linux-2.6 - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-2005-1 linux-2.6.24 - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- [oss-security] 20100112 CVE request - kernel: infoleak if print-fatal-signals=1 mailing-list
- RHSA-2010:0146 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2010:0147 vendor-advisory
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.32.4
- 37724 vdb-entry
- 38779 third-party-advisory
- SUSE-SA:2010:012 vendor-advisory
- http://patchwork.kernel.org/patch/69752/
- SUSE-SA:2010:014 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2010-0919 vendor-advisory
- DSA-1996 vendor-advisory
- 43315 third-party-advisory
- 39033 third-party-advisory
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=b45c6e76bc2c72f6426c14bed64fdcbc9bf37cb0
- 38333 third-party-advisory
- http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2011-0003.html
- [oss-security] 20100113 Re: CVE request - kernel: infoleak if print-fatal-signals=1 mailing-list
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=554578
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:10550 vdb-entry signature
- DSA-2005 vendor-advisory
- 20110211 VMSA-2011-0003 Third party component updates for VMware vCenter Server, vCenter Update Manager, ESXi and ESX mailing-list
- SUSE-SA:2010:010 vendor-advisory
- 38492 third-party-advisory
- RHSA-2010:0161 vendor-advisory