Description
arch/x86/kernel/tls.c in the Thread Local Storage (TLS) implementation in the Linux kernel through 3.18.1 allows local users to bypass the espfix protection mechanism, and consequently makes it easier for local users to bypass the ASLR protection mechanism, via a crafted application that makes a set_thread_area system call and later reads a 16-bit value.
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-ckt4-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 3.16.7-ckt4-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 3.16.7-ckt4-1 | — |
| Debian 7 | linux | 3.2.65-1+deb7u1 | DSA-3128-1 |
| 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 | 3.13.0-46.75 | USN-2516-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux-lts-utopic | 3.16.0-31.41~14.04.1 | USN-2517-1 |
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 6 | perf +16 | 2.6.32-573.el6 | RHSA-2015:1272 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | kernel-source | 4.8.13-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10128-1 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | dtrace-modules-3.8.13-68.el6uek | 0.4.3-4.el6 | ELSA-2015-3012 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | dtrace-modules-3.8.13-68.el7uek | 0.4.3-4.el7 | ELSA-2015-3012 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | kernel-uek +5 | 3.8.13-68.el7uek | ELSA-2015-3012 |
Advisories 7
- RHSA-2015:1272 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- USN-2516-1 linux vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DSA-3128-1 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
- USN-2517-1 linux-lts-utopic vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10128-1 kernel-debug-4.8.13-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- ELSA-2015-3012 Important: Unbreakable Enterprise kernel security and bugfix update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Mar 19, 2015
References
- USN-2515-1 vendor-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1172797
- USN-2491-1 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SU-2015:0736 vendor-advisory
- USN-2490-1 vendor-advisory
- USN-2492-1 vendor-advisory
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=41bdc78544b8a93a9c6814b8bbbfef966272abbe
- 62801 third-party-advisory
- 71684 vdb-entry
- USN-2518-1 vendor-advisory
- MDVSA-2015:058 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2015:0566 vendor-advisory
- USN-2493-1 vendor-advisory
- USN-2517-1 vendor-advisory
- DSA-3128 vendor-advisory
- USN-2516-1 vendor-advisory
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/41bdc78544b8a93a9c6814b8bbbfef966272abbe
- RHSA-2015:1272 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20141215 Linux kernel: multiple x86_64 vulnerabilities mailing-list