Description
DB_LOOKUP in nss_files/files-XXX.c in the Name Service Switch (NSS) in GNU C Library (aka glibc or libc6) 2.21 and earlier does not properly check if a file is open, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop) by performing a look-up on a database while iterating over it, which triggers the file pointer to be reset.
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 | glibc | 2.21-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | glibc | 2.21-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | glibc | 2.21-1 | — |
| Debian 7 | eglibc | 2.13-38+deb7u10 | DSA-3480-1 |
| Debian 6.0 | eglibc | 2.11.3-4+deb6u7 | DLA-316-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | eglibc | 2.19-0ubuntu6.8 | USN-2985-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | nscd +7 | 2.17-78.el7 | RHSA-2015:0327 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 | glibc | 2.19-22.7.1 | SUSE-SU-2015:1844-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | glibc | 2.11.3-17.87.3 | SUSE-SU-2015:1424-1 |
| SLES 11 SP3 | glibc | 2.11.3-17.87.3 | SUSE-SU-2015:1424-1 |
| SLES 11 SP2 | glibc | 2.11.3-17.45.66.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:0470-1 |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 | glibc | 2.19-22.7.1 | SUSE-SU-2015:1844-1 |
| SLES for SAP 11 SP4 | glibc | 2.11.3-17.87.3 | SUSE-SU-2015:1424-1 |
| SLES for SAP 11 SP3 | glibc | 2.11.3-17.87.3 | SUSE-SU-2015:1424-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | glibc | 2.24-2.3 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10154-1 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | nscd +6 | 2.17-78.0.1.el7 | ELSA-2015-0327 |
Advisories 9
- RHSA-2015:0327 Red Hat Security Advisory: glibc security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- USN-2985-1 eglibc, glibc vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 27, 2026
- DSA-3480-1 eglibc - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-316-1 eglibc - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2015:1844-1 Security update for glibc SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:0470-1 Security update for glibc SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2015:1424-1 Security update for glibc SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10154-1 glibc-2.24-2.3 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- ELSA-2015-0327 Moderate: glibc security and bug fix update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Mar 9, 2015
References
- SUSE-SU-2015:1424 vendor-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1165192
- SUSE-SU-2016:0470 vendor-advisory
- USN-2985-2 vendor-advisory
- GLSA-201602-02 vendor-advisory
- [libc-alpha] 20150223 [PATCH] CVE-2014-8121: Fix nss_files file management [BZ#18007] mailing-list
- RHSA-2015:0327 vendor-advisory
- 73038 vdb-entry
- DSA-3480 vendor-advisory
- USN-2985-1 vendor-advisory