Description
The assoc_array_gc function in the associative-array implementation in lib/assoc_array.c in the Linux kernel before 3.16.3 does not properly implement garbage collection, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and system crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via multiple "keyctl newring" operations followed by a "keyctl timeout" operation.
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 | 3.16.3-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 3.16.3-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 3.16.3-1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux | 3.13.0-37.64 | USN-2379-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | perf +17 | 3.10.0-123.13.1.el7 | RHSA-2014:1971 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | perf +11 | 3.10.0-123.13.1.el7 | ELSA-2014-1971 |
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 3.16.3 - Associative Array Garbage Collection Crash (PoC) EDB-36268 · dos · Mar 4, 2015
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 3
- RHSA-2014:1971 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- USN-2379-1 linux vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- ELSA-2014-1971 Important: kernel security and bug fix update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Dec 9, 2014
References
- 36268 exploit
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1140325
- 70095 vdb-entry
- 111298 vdb-entry
- USN-2378-1 vendor-advisory
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=95389b08d93d5c06ec63ab49bd732b0069b7c35e
- USN-2379-1 vendor-advisory
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/ChangeLog-3.16.3
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/95389b08d93d5c06ec63ab49bd732b0069b7c35e