Description
The assoc_array_insert_into_terminal_node function in lib/assoc_array.c in the Linux kernel before 4.5.3 does not check whether a slot is a leaf, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel memory or cause a denial of service (invalid pointer dereference and out-of-bounds read) via an application that uses associative-array data structures, as demonstrated by the keyutils test suite.
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 | 4.5.3-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 4.5.3-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 4.5.3-1 | — |
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 +4 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux | 4.4.0-24.43 | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-raspi2 | 4.4.0-1012.16 | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-snapdragon | 4.4.0-1015.18 | — |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux | 3.13.0-129.178 | USN-3406-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux-lts-vivid | 3.19.0-61.69~14.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux-lts-xenial | 4.4.0-24.43~14.04.1 | — |
| 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 +18 | 3.10.0-514.el7 | RHSA-2016:2574 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP1 | kernel-docs | 3.12.69-60.64.29.3 | SUSE-SU-2017:0464-1 |
| SLES 12 SP1 | kernel-xen +4 | 3.12.69-60.64.29.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0464-1 |
| SLES 12 | kernel-ec2 +4 | 3.12.61-52.66.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0471-1, SUSE-SU-2017:0464-1 |
| SLES 12 | kgraft-patch-SLE12_Update_19 | 1-2.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0471-1 |
Show 4 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | kernel-xen +3 | 3.12.69-60.64.29.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0464-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 | kernel-xen +3 | 3.12.61-52.66.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0471-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 | kgraft-patch-SLE12_Update_19 | 1-2.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0471-1 |
| SLE Real Time 12 SP1 | kernel-rt +5 | 3.12.69-60.30.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0407-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP1_Update_12 | 1-4.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0464-1 |
Advisories 5
- RHSA-2016:2574 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- USN-3406-1 linux vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:0471-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:0464-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:0407-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- http://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2016-11-01.html
- RHSA-2016:2574 vendor-advisory
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/8d4a2ec1e0b41b0cf9a0c5cd4511da7f8e4f3de2
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.5.3
- 94138 vdb-entry
- http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=8d4a2ec1e0b41b0cf9a0c5cd4511da7f8e4f3de2