Description
The cap_bprm_set_creds function in security/commoncap.c in the Linux kernel before 3.3.3 does not properly handle the use of file system capabilities (aka fcaps) for implementing a privileged executable file, which allows local users to bypass intended personality restrictions via a crafted application, as demonstrated by an attack that uses a parent process to disable ASLR.
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 | 2.6.32-220.23.1.el6 | RHSA-2012:0743 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat MRG 2 | kernel-rt +10 | 3.0.30-rt50.62.el6rt | RHSA-2012:0670 |
Advisories 3
- RHSA-2012:0743 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- DSA-2469-1 linux-2.6 - several Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- RHSA-2012:0670 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Nov 22, 2025
References
- RHSA-2012:0743 vendor-advisory
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/ChangeLog-3.3.3
- RHSA-2012:0670 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20120419 Re: CVE request: kernel: fcaps: clear the same personality flags as suid when fcaps are used mailing-list
- DSA-2469 vendor-advisory
- 53166 vdb-entry
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=806722
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/d52fc5dde171f030170a6cb78034d166b13c9445
- 1027072 vdb-entry
- linux-kernel-fcaps-sec-bypass(75043) vdb-entry
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=d52fc5dde171f030170a6cb78034d166b13c9445