Description
The Linux kernel before 4.5 allows local users to bypass file-descriptor limits and cause a denial of service (memory consumption) by leveraging incorrect tracking of descriptor ownership and sending each descriptor over a UNIX socket before closing it. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incorrect fix for CVE-2013-4312.
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 | 4.4.4-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 4.4.4-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 4.4.4-1 | — |
| Debian 8 | linux | 3.16.7-ckt20-1+deb8u4 | DSA-3503-1 |
| Debian 7 | linux | 3.2.73-2+deb7u3 | DSA-3503-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux | 3.13.0-85.129 | USN-2946-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux-lts-utopic | 3.16.0-69.89~14.04.1 | USN-2948-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux-lts-vivid | 3.19.0-58.64~14.04.1 | USN-2949-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux-lts-wily | 4.2.0-35.40~14.04.1 | USN-2947-2 |
Advisories 5
- USN-2946-1 linux vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DSA-3503-1 linux - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- USN-2947-2 linux-lts-wily vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- USN-2948-1 linux-lts-utopic vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- USN-2949-1 linux-lts-vivid vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
References
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1311517
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujan2018-3236628.html
- USN-2949-1 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20160223 CVE Request: Linux: unix: correctly track in-flight fds in sending process user_struct sockets mailing-list
- DSA-3503 vendor-advisory
- http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=415e3d3e90ce9e18727e8843ae343eda5a58fad6
- USN-2947-3 vendor-advisory
- USN-2947-2 vendor-advisory
- USN-2947-1 vendor-advisory
- USN-2946-2 vendor-advisory
- USN-2948-1 vendor-advisory
- USN-2946-1 vendor-advisory
- USN-2948-2 vendor-advisory
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/415e3d3e90ce9e18727e8843ae343eda5a58fad6