Description
Race condition in the __exit_signal function in kernel/exit.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.37-rc2 allows local users to cause a denial of service via vectors related to multithreaded exec, the use of a thread group leader in kernel/posix-cpu-timers.c, and the selection of a new thread group leader in the de_thread function in fs/exec.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 | 2.6.26-26lenny2 | 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 |
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 4
- 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
- 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
- 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
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/testing/ChangeLog-2.6.37-rc2
- RHSA-2011:0007 vendor-advisory
- 45028 vdb-entry
- [oss-security] 20101124 Re: CVE request: kernel: posix-cpu-timers: workaround to suppress the problems with mt exec mailing-list
- http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2011-0012.html
- 42890 third-party-advisory
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=e0a70217107e6f9844628120412cb27bb4cea194
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=656264
- MDVSA-2011:029 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20101123 CVE request: kernel: posix-cpu-timers: workaround to suppress the problems with mt exec mailing-list