Description
The ipc subsystem in the Linux kernel before 2.6.37-rc1 does not initialize certain structures, which allows local users to obtain potentially sensitive information from kernel stack memory via vectors related to the (1) compat_sys_semctl, (2) compat_sys_msgctl, and (3) compat_sys_shmctl functions in ipc/compat.c; and the (4) compat_sys_mq_open and (5) compat_sys_mq_getsetattr functions in ipc/compat_mq.c.
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 | 2.6.26-26lenny1 | DSA-2126-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6 | perf +14 | 2.6.32-71.14.1.el6 | RHSA-2011:0007 |
| RHEL 5 | kernel +12 | 2.6.18-238.el5 | RHSA-2011:0017 |
| RHEL 4 | kernel +10 | 2.6.9-89.35.1.EL | RHSA-2011:0162 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat MRG 1 | perf +10 | 2.6.33.7-rt29.47.el5rt | RHSA-2010:0958 |
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.
Exploit-DB 1
- Linux Kernel < 2.6.36.2 (Ubuntu 10.04) - 'Half-Nelson.c' Econet Privilege Escalation EDB-17787 · local · Sep 5, 2011 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 5
- RHSA-2011:0007 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2010:0958 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2011:0017 Red Hat Security Advisory: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.6 kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2011:0162 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-2126-1 linux-2.6 - several issues Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 45073 vdb-entry
- SUSE-SA:2011:004 vendor-advisory
- 42778 third-party-advisory
- 20111013 VMSA-2011-0012 VMware ESXi and ESX updates to third party libraries and ESX Service Console mailing-list
- RHSA-2011:0017 vendor-advisory
- 46397 third-party-advisory
- SUSE-SA:2011:001 vendor-advisory
- 42932 third-party-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=648658
- RHSA-2011:0007 vendor-advisory
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=03145beb455cf5c20a761e8451e30b8a74ba58d9
- ADV-2011-0124 vdb-entry
- 8366 third-party-advisory
- SUSE-SA:2011:007 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SA:2010:060 vendor-advisory
- ADV-2011-0298 vdb-entry
- RHSA-2010:0958 vendor-advisory
- MDVSA-2011:051 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20101006 Re: CVE request: multiple kernel stack memory disclosures mailing-list
- 42963 third-party-advisory
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/testing/ChangeLog-2.6.37-rc1
- [linux-kernel] 20101006 [PATCH v3] IPC: Initialize structure memory to zero for compat functions mailing-list
- http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2011-0012.html
- 42884 third-party-advisory
- ADV-2011-0375 vdb-entry
- 42890 third-party-advisory
- RHSA-2011:0162 vendor-advisory
- ADV-2011-0012 vdb-entry
- SUSE-SA:2011:008 vendor-advisory
- ADV-2011-0168 vdb-entry
- MDVSA-2011:029 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20101025 Re: CVE request: multiple kernel stack memory disclosures mailing-list
- 43291 third-party-advisory
- DSA-2126 vendor-advisory