Description
The Linux kernel before 3.4.5 on the x86 platform, when Physical Address Extension (PAE) is enabled, does not properly use the Page Middle Directory (PMD), which allows local users to cause a denial of service (panic) via a crafted application that triggers a race condition.
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 6 | perf +15 | 2.6.32-220.23.1.el6 | RHSA-2012:0743 |
Advisories 1
- RHSA-2012:0743 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
References
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/ChangeLog-3.4.5
- RHSA-2012:0743 vendor-advisory
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=26c191788f18129af0eb32a358cdaea0c7479626
- [oss-security] 20120518 Re: CVE Request -- kernel: mm: read_pmd_atomic: 32bit PAE pmd walk vs pmd_populate SMP race condition mailing-list
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=822821
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/26c191788f18129af0eb32a358cdaea0c7479626
- USN-1529-1 vendor-advisory
- HPSBGN02970 vendor-advisory