Description
The Linux kernel before 2.6.39 does not properly create transparent huge pages in response to a MAP_PRIVATE mmap system call on /dev/zero, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (system crash) via a crafted application.
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.
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6 | perf +14 | 2.6.32-131.6.1.el6 | RHSA-2011:0928 |
Advisories 1
- RHSA-2011:0928 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Nov 22, 2025
References
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=78f11a255749d09025f54d4e2df4fbcb031530e2
- [oss-security] 20110620 Re: CVE request: kernel: thp: madvise on top of /dev/zero private mapping can lead to panic mailing-list
- http://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.39
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=714761
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/78f11a255749d09025f54d4e2df4fbcb031530e2