Description
The compat_sys_recvmmsg function in net/compat.c in the Linux kernel before 3.13.2, when CONFIG_X86_X32 is enabled, allows local users to gain privileges via a recvmmsg system call with a crafted timeout pointer parameter.
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 | 3.13.4-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 3.13.4-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 3.13.4-1 | — |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP1 | kernel-xen +3 | 3.12.74-60.64.66.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:3210-1 |
| SLES 12 SP1 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP1_Update_23 | 1-2.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:3210-1 |
| SLES 12 | kernel-ec2 +4 | 3.12.61-52.106.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:3249-1, SUSE-SU-2017:3210-1 |
| SLES 12 | kgraft-patch-SLE12_Update_29 | 1-5.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:3249-1 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | kernel-xen +3 | 3.12.74-60.64.66.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:3210-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP1_Update_23 | 1-2.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:3210-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 6 | kernel-xen +3 | 3.12.74-60.64.66.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:3210-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 6 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP1_Update_23 | 1-2.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:3210-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | kernel-source | 4.8.13-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10128-1 |
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.
Metasploit 1 module
-
Linux Kernel recvmmsg Privilege Escalation
exploit/linux/local/recvmmsg_priv_esc
Exploit-DB 4
- Linux Kernel 3.13.1 - 'Recvmmsg' Local Privilege Escalation (Metasploit) EDB-40503 · local · Oct 11, 2016 · verified
- Linux Kernel 3.4 < 3.13.2 (Ubuntu 13.10) - 'CONFIG_X86_X32' Arbitrary Write (2) EDB-31346 · local · Feb 2, 2014 · verified
- Linux Kernel 3.4 < 3.13.2 (Ubuntu 13.04/13.10 x64) - 'CONFIG_X86_X32=y' Local Privilege Escalation (3) EDB-31347 · local · Feb 2, 2014 · verified
- Linux Kernel 3.4 < 3.13.2 - recvmmsg x32 compat (PoC) EDB-31305 · dos · Jan 31, 2014
GitHub 2 repositories
-
saelo/cve-2014-0038 ★ 199 · Feb 2, 2014
Linux local root exploit for CVE-2014-0038
-
kiruthikan99/IT19115276 ★ 0 · May 12, 2020
SNP Assignment 1 Report - Linux box exploitation ( Vulnerability CVE-2014-0038)
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 3
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10128-1 kernel-debug-4.8.13-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:3210-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:3249-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=2def2ef2ae5f3990aabdbe8a755911902707d268
- USN-2096-1 vendor-advisory
- https://github.com/saelo/cve-2014-0038
- USN-2095-1 vendor-advisory
- http://pastebin.com/raw.php?i=DH3Lbg54
- https://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=338594
- USN-2094-1 vendor-advisory
- MDVSA-2014:038 vendor-advisory
- 56669 third-party-advisory
- 65255 vdb-entry
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/2def2ef2ae5f3990aabdbe8a755911902707d268
- 40503 exploit
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/ChangeLog-3.13.2
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1060023
- openSUSE-SU-2014:0204 vendor-advisory
- 31347 exploit
- openSUSE-SU-2014:0205 vendor-advisory
- 31346 exploit
- [oss-security] 20140131 Linux 3.4+: arbitrary write with CONFIG_X86_X32 (CVE-2014-0038) mailing-list