Description
The do_tkill function in kernel/signal.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9 does not initialize a certain data structure, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel memory via a crafted application that makes a (1) tkill or (2) tgkill system 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 | 3.9.4-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 3.9.4-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 3.9.4-1 | — |
| Debian 7 | linux | 3.2.41-2+deb7u2 | DSA-2669-1 |
| Debian 6.0 | linux-2.6 | 2.6.32-48squeeze4 | DSA-2766-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6 | perf +15 | 2.6.32-431.1.2.el6 | RHSA-2013:1801 |
| RHEL 5 | kernel +12 | 2.6.18-348.18.1.el5 | RHSA-2013:1292 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat MRG 2 | kernel-rt +11 | 3.6.11.5-rt37.55.el6rt | RHSA-2013:1264 |
Advisories 5
- RHSA-2013:1801 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- DSA-2669-1 linux - several Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-2766-1 linux-2.6 - several Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- RHSA-2013:1292 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Nov 22, 2025
- RHSA-2013:1264 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Nov 22, 2025
References
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=970873
- USN-1899-1 vendor-advisory
- MDVSA-2013:176 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20130604 Re: CVE Request: kernel info leak in tkill/tgkill mailing-list
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/b9e146d8eb3b9ecae5086d373b50fa0c1f3e7f0f
- DSA-2766 vendor-advisory
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/ChangeLog-3.8.9
- openSUSE-SU-2013:1971 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2013:1801 vendor-advisory
- 55055 third-party-advisory
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=b9e146d8eb3b9ecae5086d373b50fa0c1f3e7f0f
- USN-1900-1 vendor-advisory