Description
The I/O implementation for block devices in the Linux kernel before 2.6.33 does not properly handle the CLONE_IO feature, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (I/O instability) by starting multiple processes that share an I/O context.
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 | 2.6.32-44 | DSA-2469-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6 | perf +15 | 2.6.32-220.13.1.el6 | RHSA-2012:0481 |
Advisories 2
- RHSA-2012:0481 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- DSA-2469-1 linux-2.6 - several Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- RHSA-2012:0531 vendor-advisory
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=61cc74fbb87af6aa551a06a370590c9bc07e29d9
- USN-1408-1 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20120223 Re: CVE request -- kernel: block: CLONE_IO io_context refcounting issues mailing-list
- 1027086 vdb-entry
- DSA-2469 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2012:0481 vendor-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=796829
- SUSE-SU-2012:0616 vendor-advisory
- 48545 third-party-advisory
- USN-1411-1 vendor-advisory
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/b69f2292063d2caf37ca9aec7d63ded203701bf3
- 48842 third-party-advisory
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/61cc74fbb87af6aa551a06a370590c9bc07e29d9
- http://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.33
- USN-1410-1 vendor-advisory
- HPSBGN02970 vendor-advisory
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=b69f2292063d2caf37ca9aec7d63ded203701bf3