Description
Format string vulnerability in the b43_request_firmware function in drivers/net/wireless/b43/main.c in the Broadcom B43 wireless driver in the Linux kernel through 3.9.4 allows local users to gain privileges by leveraging root access and including format string specifiers in an fwpostfix modprobe parameter, leading to improper construction of an error message.
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 +15 | 2.6.32-358.14.1.el6 | RHSA-2013:1051 |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6.3 EUS | perf +15 | 2.6.32-279.37.2.el6 | RHSA-2013:1450 |
| Red Hat OpenStack 3 | perf +9 | 2.6.32-358.114.1.openstack.el6 | RHSA-2013:1080 |
| Red Hat MRG 2 | kernel-rt +11 | 3.6.11.5-rt37.55.el6rt | RHSA-2013:1264 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Exploit-DB 1
- Linux Kernel 3.3.5 - 'b43' Wireless Driver Privilege Escalation EDB-38559 · local · Jun 7, 2013 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 6
- RHSA-2013:1450 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2013:1051 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 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
- RHSA-2013:1080 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Nov 22, 2025
References
- USN-1919-1 vendor-advisory
- http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/linville/wireless.git/commit/?id=9538cbaab6e8b8046039b4b2eb6c9d614dc782bd
- USN-1899-1 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2013:1051 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SU-2013:1473 vendor-advisory
- USN-1920-1 vendor-advisory
- USN-1915-1 vendor-advisory
- DSA-2766 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2013:1971 vendor-advisory
- USN-1918-1 vendor-advisory
- USN-1930-1 vendor-advisory
- USN-1917-1 vendor-advisory
- USN-1916-1 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2013:1450 vendor-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=969518
- [oss-security] 20130606 Linux kernel format string flaws mailing-list
- USN-1900-1 vendor-advisory
- USN-1914-1 vendor-advisory