Description
The sock_setsockopt function in net/core/sock.c in the Linux kernel before 3.5.7 does not ensure that a keepalive action is associated with a stream socket, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (system crash) by leveraging the ability to create a raw 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 | 3.6.4-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 3.6.4-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 3.6.4-1 | — |
| Debian 6.0 | linux-2.6 | 2.6.32-48squeeze9 | DLA-103-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6 | perf +16 | 2.6.32-504.3.3.el6 | RHSA-2014:1997 |
Advisories 2
- RHSA-2014:1997 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 27, 2026
- DLA-103-1 linux-2.6 - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/ChangeLog-3.5.7
- HPSBGN03285 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SU-2015:0652 vendor-advisory
- HPSBGN03282 vendor-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1141742
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/3e10986d1d698140747fcfc2761ec9cb64c1d582
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=3e10986d1d698140747fcfc2761ec9cb64c1d582
- [oss-security] 20140915 Re: CVE request Linux kernel: net: guard tcp_set_keepalive against crash mailing-list
- SUSE-SU-2015:0812 vendor-advisory