Description
The fill_event_metadata function in fs/notify/fanotify/fanotify_user.c in the Linux kernel through 3.9.4 does not initialize a certain structure member, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel memory via a read operation on the fanotify descriptor.
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 | 3.9.8-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 3.9.8-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 3.9.8-1 | — |
| Debian 7 | linux | 3.2.46-1+deb7u1 | DSA-2745-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat MRG 2 | kernel-rt +11 | 3.6.11.5-rt37.55.el6rt | RHSA-2013:1264 |
Advisories 2
- DSA-2745-1 linux - several Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- RHSA-2013:1264 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Nov 22, 2025
References
- USN-1929-1 vendor-advisory
- [linux-kernel] 20130603 [patch] fanotify: info leak in copy_event_to_user() mailing-list
- SUSE-SU-2013:1473 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2013:1971 vendor-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=971258
- USN-1930-1 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SU-2013:1474 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20130605 Re: CVE Request: Linux kernel: fanotify: info leak in copy_event_to_user mailing-list