Description
The hci_uart_tty_open function in the HCI UART driver (drivers/bluetooth/hci_ldisc.c) in the Linux kernel 2.6.36, and possibly other versions, does not verify whether the tty has a write operation, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference) via vectors related to the Bluetooth driver.
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 | 2.6.26-26lenny2 | DSA-2153-1 |
| Debian 5.0 | user-mode-linux | 2.6.26-1um-2+26lenny2 | DSA-2153-1 |
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 | 2.6.18-194.32.1.el5 | RHSA-2011:0004 |
| 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-rt29.55.el5rt | RHSA-2011:0330 |
Advisories 5
- RHSA-2011:0004 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2011:0007 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2011:0162 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-2153-1 linux-2.6 - several issues Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- RHSA-2011:0330 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jan 14, 2026
References
- 42789 third-party-advisory
- http://git.kernel.org/linus/c19483cc5e56ac5e22dd19cf25ba210ab1537773
- ADV-2011-0024 vdb-entry
- RHSA-2011:0004 vendor-advisory
- 20111013 VMSA-2011-0012 VMware ESXi and ESX updates to third party libraries and ESX Service Console mailing-list
- 46397 third-party-advisory
- kernel-hciuartttyopen-dos(64617) vdb-entry
- RHSA-2011:0007 vendor-advisory
- 45014 vdb-entry
- 42963 third-party-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=641410
- http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2011-0012.html
- ADV-2011-0375 vdb-entry
- 42890 third-party-advisory
- RHSA-2011:0162 vendor-advisory
- [linux-kernel] 20101007 Peculiar stuff in hci_ath3k/badness in hci_uart mailing-list
- SUSE-SA:2011:008 vendor-advisory
- ADV-2011-0168 vdb-entry
- http://xorl.wordpress.com/2010/12/01/cve-2010-4242-linux-kernel-bluetooth-hci-uart-invalid-pointer-access/
- 43291 third-party-advisory