Description
The robust futex implementation in the Linux kernel before 2.6.28 does not properly handle processes that make exec system calls, which allows local users to cause a denial of service or possibly gain privileges by writing to a memory location in a child process.
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 5 | kernel +12 | 2.6.18-274.18.1.el5 | RHSA-2012:0107 |
Show 1 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 |
Advisories 2
- RHSA-2012:0358 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel 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
References
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=771764
- [oss-security] 20120508 Re: CVE Request -- kernel: futex: clear robust_list on execve mailing-list
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/8141c7f3e7aee618312fa1c15109e1219de784a7
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=8141c7f3e7aee618312fa1c15109e1219de784a7
- http://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.28