Description
Format string vulnerability in the register_disk function in block/genhd.c in the Linux kernel through 3.9.4 allows local users to gain privileges by leveraging root access and writing format string specifiers to /sys/module/md_mod/parameters/new_array in order to create a crafted /dev/md device name.
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 |
| 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 +16 | 2.6.32-431.el6 | RHSA-2013:1645 |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6.4 EUS | perf +14 | 2.6.32-358.37.1.el6 | RHSA-2014:0284 |
| RHEL 6.3 EUS | perf +15 | 2.6.32-279.39.1.el6 | RHSA-2013:1783 |
| Red Hat MRG 2 | kernel-rt +11 | 3.6.11.5-rt37.55.el6rt | RHSA-2013:1264 |
Advisories 6
- RHSA-2014:0284 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2013:1783 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2013:1645 Red Hat Security Advisory: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 kernel update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- DSA-2745-1 linux - several Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-2766-1 linux-2.6 - several Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- RHSA-2013:1264 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Nov 22, 2025
References
- RHSA-2013:1783 vendor-advisory
- [linux-kernel] 20130606 [PATCH 1/8] block: do not pass disk names as format strings mailing-list
- USN-1913-1 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SU-2013:1473 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2013:1645 vendor-advisory
- DSA-2766 vendor-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=969515
- openSUSE-SU-2013:1971 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SU-2013:1474 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2014:0284 vendor-advisory
- USN-1941-1 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20130606 Linux kernel format string flaws mailing-list
- USN-1942-1 vendor-advisory
- USN-1912-1 vendor-advisory