Description
The __request_module function in kernel/kmod.c in the Linux kernel before 3.4 does not set a certain killable attribute, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (memory consumption) via a crafted application.
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 | 3.2.35-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 3.2.35-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 3.2.35-1 | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6 | perf +15 | 2.6.32-279.22.1.el6 | RHSA-2013:0223 |
| RHEL 5 | kernel +12 | 2.6.18-371.el5 | RHSA-2013:1348 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat MRG 2 | kernel-rt +11 | 3.2.23-rt37.56.el6rt | RHSA-2012:1282 |
| Red Hat MRG 2 | rt-firmware | 1.0-3.el6_3 | RHSA-2012:1282 |
Advisories 3
- RHSA-2013:1348 Red Hat Security Advisory: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 kernel update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2013:0223 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2012:1282 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
References
- [linux-kernel] 20120207 [PATCH 5/5] kmod: make __request_module() killable mailing-list
- RHSA-2013:0223 vendor-advisory
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/linux-3.4.tar.bz2
- [oss-security] 20120902 CVE Request -- kernel: request_module() OOM local DoS mailing-list
- 55077 third-party-advisory
- RHSA-2013:1348 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SU-2015:0481 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2015:0566 vendor-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=853474
- 55361 vdb-entry