Description
The implementation of certain splice_write file operations in the Linux kernel before 3.16 does not enforce a restriction on the maximum size of a single file, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (system crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted splice system call, as demonstrated by use of a file descriptor associated with an ext4 filesystem.
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 | 3.16.2-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 3.16.2-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 3.16.2-1 | — |
| Debian 7 | linux | 3.2.65-1+deb7u2 | DSA-3170-1 |
| Debian 6.0 | linux-2.6 | 2.6.32-48squeeze11 | DLA-155-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-riscv +6 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv +2 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gke +4 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux | 3.13.0-48.80 | USN-2544-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde-5.15 | No fix yet | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | perf +17 | 3.10.0-123.20.1.el7 | RHSA-2015:0102 |
| RHEL 6 | perf +16 | 2.6.32-504.12.2.el6 | RHSA-2015:0674 |
| RHEL 5 | kernel +12 | 2.6.18-402.el5 | RHSA-2015:0164 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat MRG 2 | kernel-rt +10 | 1:3.10.0-229.rt56.144.el6rt | RHSA-2015:0694 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 | kernel-docs | 3.12.38-44.5 | SUSE-SU-2015:0529-1 |
| SLES 12 | kernel-ec2 +5 | 3.12.38-44.1 | SUSE-SU-2015:0529-1 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 | kernel-xen +3 | 3.12.38-44.1 | SUSE-SU-2015:0529-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 | kgraft-patch-SLE12_Update_1 +1 | 3-2.1 | SUSE-SU-2015:1489-1, SUSE-SU-2015:1488-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 | kgraft-patch-SLE12_Update_3 | 1-2.2 | SUSE-SU-2015:0529-1 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | dtrace-modules-3.8.13-118.el6uek | 0.4.5-3.el6 | ELSA-2015-3098 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | dtrace-modules-3.8.13-118.el7uek | 0.4.5-3.el7 | ELSA-2015-3098 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | kernel-uek +5 | 3.8.13-118.el7uek | ELSA-2015-3098 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | perf +11 | 3.10.0-123.20.1.el7 | ELSA-2015-0102 |
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.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 1
- Linux Kernel 3.13/3.14 (Ubuntu) - 'splice()' System Call Local Denial of Service EDB-36743 · dos · Apr 13, 2015
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 12
- RHSA-2015:0674 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2015:0102 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2015:0164 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- USN-2544-1 linux vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DSA-3170-1 linux - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-155-1 linux-2.6 - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2015:1488-1 Live patch for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2015:0529-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2015:1489-1 Live patch for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- RHSA-2015:0694 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Nov 22, 2025
- ELSA-2015-3098 Important: Unbreakable Enterprise kernel security and bugfix update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Nov 13, 2015
- ELSA-2015-0102 Important: kernel security and bug fix update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Jan 28, 2015
References
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1163792
- USN-2544-1 vendor-advisory
- DSA-3170 vendor-advisory
- 36743 exploit
- USN-2542-1 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SU-2015:1489 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SU-2015:0736 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2015:0164 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SU-2015:1488 vendor-advisory
- 72347 vdb-entry
- USN-2541-1 vendor-advisory
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/8d0207652cbe27d1f962050737848e5ad4671958
- RHSA-2015:0694 vendor-advisory
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinoct2015-2719645.html
- 117810 vdb-entry
- SUSE-SU-2015:0529 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2015:0714 vendor-advisory
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=8d0207652cbe27d1f962050737848e5ad4671958
- USN-2543-1 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2015:0102 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2015:0674 vendor-advisory