Description
Multiple buffer overflows in net/wireless/nl80211.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.39.2 allow local users to gain privileges by leveraging the CAP_NET_ADMIN capability during scan operations with a long SSID value.
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 6.0 | linux-2.6 | 2.6.32-35squeeze1 | DSA-2303-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6 | perf +14 | 2.6.32-131.12.1.el6 | RHSA-2011:1189 |
| RHEL 5 | kernel +11 | 2.6.18-274.3.1.el5 | RHSA-2011:1212 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5.6 EUS | kernel +11 | 2.6.18-238.31.1.el5 | RHSA-2011:1813 |
| Red Hat MRG 2 | kernel-rt +10 | 2.6.33.9-rt31.75.el6rt | RHSA-2011:1253 |
Advisories 5
- RHSA-2011:1813 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2011:1253 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2011:1212 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2011:1189 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- DSA-2303-1 linux-2.6 - several issues Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- RHSA-2011:1212 vendor-advisory
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=208c72f4fe44fe09577e7975ba0e7fa0278f3d03
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/208c72f4fe44fe09577e7975ba0e7fa0278f3d03
- [oss-security] 20110701 Re: CVE request: kernel: nl80211: missing check for valid SSID size in scan operations mailing-list
- http://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.39.2
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=718152