Description
The log_prefix function in kernel/printk.c in the Linux kernel 3.x before 3.4.33 does not properly remove a prefix string from a syslog header, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (buffer overflow and system crash) by leveraging /dev/kmsg write access and triggering a call_console_drivers function call.
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 | 3.2.39-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 3.2.39-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 3.2.39-1 | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat MRG 2 | kernel-rt +11 | 3.6.11-rt28.20.el6rt | RHSA-2013:0566 |
Advisories 1
- RHSA-2013:0566 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
References
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/ce0030c00f95cf9110d9cdcd41e901e1fb814417
- openSUSE-SU-2013:1187 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20130226 Re: CVE request -- Linux kernel: call_console_drivers() Function Log Prefix Stripping buffer overflow mailing-list
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=916075
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/ChangeLog-3.4.33