Description
kernel/trace/trace_syscalls.c in the Linux kernel through 3.17.2 does not properly handle private syscall numbers during use of the ftrace subsystem, which allows local users to gain privileges or cause a denial of service (invalid pointer dereference) via a crafted application.
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 | 3.16.7-ckt2-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 3.16.7-ckt2-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 3.16.7-ckt2-1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux | 3.13.0-41.70 | USN-2446-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux-lts-utopic | 3.16.0-26.35~14.04.1 | USN-2447-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | perf +17 | 3.10.0-229.el7 | RHSA-2015:0290 |
| RHEL 6 | perf +16 | 2.6.32-504.16.2.el6 | RHSA-2015:0864 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat MRG 2 | kernel-rt +10 | 3.10.58-rt62.58.el6rt | RHSA-2014:1943 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | dtrace-modules-3.8.13-55.1.8.el6uek | 0.4.3-4.el6 | ELSA-2015-3013 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | dtrace-modules-3.8.13-55.1.8.el7uek | 0.4.3-4.el7 | ELSA-2015-3013 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | kernel-uek +5 | 3.8.13-55.1.8.el7uek | ELSA-2015-3013 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | perf +11 | 3.10.0-229.el7 | ELSA-2015-0290 |
Advisories 7
- RHSA-2015:0864 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2015:0290 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- USN-2446-1 linux vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- USN-2447-1 linux-lts-utopic vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- RHSA-2014:1943 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Nov 22, 2025
- ELSA-2015-3013 Important: Unbreakable Enterprise kernel security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Mar 13, 2015
- ELSA-2015-0290 Important: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Mar 11, 2015
References
- [oss-security] 20141106 Exploitable issues in Linux perf/ftrace subsystems mailing-list
- RHSA-2015:0864 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2015:0290 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SU-2015:0481 vendor-advisory
- linux-kernel-cve20147826-dos(98556) vdb-entry
- openSUSE-SU-2015:0566 vendor-advisory
- 70971 vdb-entry
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1161565
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=086ba77a6db00ed858ff07451bedee197df868c9
- RHSA-2014:1943 vendor-advisory
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/086ba77a6db00ed858ff07451bedee197df868c9