Description
The Linux kernel before 3.2.2 does not properly restrict SG_IO ioctl calls, which allows local users to bypass intended restrictions on disk read and write operations by sending a SCSI command to (1) a partition block device or (2) an LVM volume.
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 14 | libguestfs | 1:1.14.8-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | libguestfs | 1:1.14.8-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | libguestfs | 1:1.14.8-1 | — |
| Debian 6.0 | linux-2.6 | 2.6.32-39squeeze1 | DSA-2443-1, DSA-2389-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6 | perf +15 | 2.6.32-220.2.1.el6 | RHSA-2011:1849 |
| RHEL 6 | rhev-hypervisor6 +1 | 6.2-20111215.0.el6_2 | RHSA-2011:1850 |
| RHEL 5 | kernel +12 | 2.6.18-274.18.1.el5 | RHSA-2012:0107 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5.6 EUS | kernel +12 | 2.6.18-238.35.1.el5 | RHSA-2012:0358 |
| Red Hat MRG 2 | kernel-rt +10 | 3.0.18-rt34.53.el6rt | RHSA-2012:0333 |
Advisories 7
- RHSA-2012:0358 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2012:0333 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2012:0107 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2011:1850 Red Hat Security Advisory: rhev-hypervisor6 security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2011:1849 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- DSA-2389-1 linux-2.6 - several Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-2443-1 linux-2.6 - several Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- [oss-security] 20111222 CVE-2011-4127 kernel: possible privilege escalation via SG_IO ioctl mailing-list
- SUSE-SU-2012:0554 vendor-advisory
- 48898 third-party-advisory
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=ec8013beddd717d1740cfefb1a9b900deef85462
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=0bfc96cb77224736dfa35c3c555d37b3646ef35e
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=752375
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/0bfc96cb77224736dfa35c3c555d37b3646ef35e
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/ChangeLog-3.2.2
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/ec8013beddd717d1740cfefb1a9b900deef85462
- SUSE-SU-2015:0812 vendor-advisory