Description
The rds_recvmsg function in net/rds/recv.c in the Linux kernel before 3.0.44 does not initialize a certain structure member, which allows local users to obtain potentially sensitive information from kernel stack memory via a (1) recvfrom or (2) recvmsg system call on an RDS socket.
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 | linux | 3.2.29-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 3.2.29-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 3.2.29-1 | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6 | perf +15 | 2.6.32-279.9.1.el6 | RHSA-2012:1304 |
| RHEL 5 | kernel +12 | 2.6.18-308.16.1.el5 | RHSA-2012:1323 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat MRG 2 | kernel-rt +11 | 3.2.33-rt50.66.el6rt | RHSA-2012:1491 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 11 SP4 | kernel-ec2 +8 | 3.0.101-108.90.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:14051-1 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 9 | kernel-uek +34 | 6.12.0-101.33.4.3.el10uek | ELSA-2025-20530, ELSA-2025-20480 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Exploit-DB 1
- Linux Kernel 2.6.x - 'rds_recvmsg()' Local Information Disclosure EDB-37543 · local · Jul 26, 2012 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 6
- RHSA-2012:1491 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jul 20, 2026
- RHSA-2012:1323 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2012:1304 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2019:14051-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- ELSA-2025-20530 Important: Unbreakable Enterprise kernel security update (Oracle Linux 9) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Aug 18, 2025
- ELSA-2025-20480 Important: Unbreakable Enterprise kernel security update (Oracle Linux 9) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Jul 17, 2025
References
- USN-1572-1 vendor-advisory
- USN-1579-1 vendor-advisory
- USN-1578-1 vendor-advisory
- 50732 third-party-advisory
- 50811 third-party-advisory
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/ChangeLog-3.0.44
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=06b6a1cf6e776426766298d055bb3991957d90a7
- USN-1567-1 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2012:1323 vendor-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=820039
- USN-1577-1 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SU-2012:1679 vendor-advisory
- USN-1568-1 vendor-advisory
- USN-1575-1 vendor-advisory
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/06b6a1cf6e776426766298d055bb3991957d90a7
- 50633 third-party-advisory
- USN-1580-1 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20120726 Re: CVE Request -- kernel: recv{from,msg}() on an rds socket can leak kernel memory mailing-list