Description
A flaw was found affecting the Linux kernel before version 4.17. By mmap()ing a FUSE-backed file onto a process's memory containing command line arguments (or environment strings), an attacker can cause utilities from psutils or procps (such as ps, w) or any other program which makes a read() call to the /proc/<pid>/cmdline (or /proc/<pid>/environ) files to block indefinitely (denial of service) or for some controlled time (as a synchronization primitive for other attacks).
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| [UNKNOWN] | kernel | kernel 4.17 | — |
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 | 4.16.12-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 4.16.12-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 4.16.12-1 | — |
| Debian 8 | linux-4.9 | 4.9.110-1~deb8u1 | DLA-1423-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gcp-6.11 +4 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv +2 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gke +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux | 4.15.0-33.36 | USN-3752-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-aws +1 | 4.15.0-1020.20 | USN-3752-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-azure | 4.15.0-1022.23 | USN-3752-3 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 4.15.0-1018.19 | USN-3752-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-oem | 4.15.0-1017.20 | USN-3752-3 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-raspi2 | 4.15.0-1021.23 | USN-3752-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-snapdragon | 4.15.0-1053.57 | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux | 4.4.0-143.169 | USN-3910-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-aws | 4.4.0-1077.87 | USN-3910-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-azure | 4.15.0-1022.22~16.04.1 | USN-3752-3 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 4.15.0-1018.19~16.04.2 | USN-3752-3 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe | 4.15.0-33.36~16.04.1 | USN-3752-2 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-kvm | 4.4.0-1041.47 | USN-3910-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-raspi2 | 4.4.0-1104.112 | USN-3910-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-snapdragon | 4.4.0-1108.113 | USN-3910-1 |
Show 4 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux-aws | 4.4.0-1039.42 | USN-3910-2 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux-lts-xenial | 4.4.0-143.169~14.04.2 | USN-3910-2 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 16.04 LTS | linux-fips | 4.4.0-1008.10 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde-5.15 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | linux | No fix yet | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | kernel-alt +1 | 4.14.0-115.el7a | RHSA-2018:2948 |
| RHEL 7 | kernel-rt +10 | 3.10.0-957.rt56.910.el7 | RHSA-2018:3096 |
| RHEL 7 | perf +18 | 3.10.0-957.el7 | RHSA-2018:3083, RHSA-2018:2948 |
Show 4 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7.4 TUS | perf +11 | 3.10.0-693.76.1.el7 | RHSA-2020:3804 |
| RHEL 7.4 E4S | perf +13 | 3.10.0-693.76.1.el7 | RHSA-2020:3804 |
| RHEL 7.4 AUS | perf +11 | 3.10.0-693.76.1.el7 | RHSA-2020:3804 |
| Red Hat MRG 2 | kernel-rt +10 | 1:3.10.0-693.76.1.rt56.676.el6rt | RHSA-2020:3810 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 | kernel-docs +6 | 4.12.14-25.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:2092-1 |
| SLES 12 SP3 | kernel-azure +2 | 4.4.170-4.22.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:0148-1 |
| SLES 12 SP3 | kernel-docs +4 | 4.4.175-94.79.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:0541-1 |
| SLES 12 SP2 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.4.121-92.109.2 | SUSE-SU-2019:1287-1 |
| SLES 12 SP2 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP2_Update_29 | 1-3.5.2 | SUSE-SU-2019:1287-1 |
Show 7 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP3 | kernel-azure +2 | 4.4.170-4.22.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:0148-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP3 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.4.175-94.79.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:0541-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.4.121-92.109.2 | SUSE-SU-2019:1287-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP2_Update_29 | 1-3.5.2 | SUSE-SU-2019:1287-1 |
| SLE Real Time 12 SP3 | kernel-rt +1 | 4.4.170-3.32.2 | SUSE-SU-2019:0320-1 |
| SLE Real Time 12 SP3 | kernel-syms-rt +1 | 4.4.170-3.32.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:0320-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 | kernel-default | 4.12.14-25.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:2092-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15_Update_1 | 1-1.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:2092-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 SP3 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP3_Update_23 | 1-4.7.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:0541-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 7 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.4.121-92.109.2 | SUSE-SU-2019:1287-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 7 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP2_Update_29 | 1-3.5.2 | SUSE-SU-2019:1287-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 4 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.4.121-92.109.2 | SUSE-SU-2019:1287-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 4 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP2_Update_29 | 1-3.5.2 | SUSE-SU-2019:1287-1 |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2 | perf +7 | 4.14.47-63.37.amzn2 | ALAS2-2018-1038 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | perf +12 | 3.10.0-957.el7 | ELSA-2018-3083 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 1
- Procps-ng - Multiple Vulnerabilities EDB-44806 · local · May 30, 2018
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 18
- RHSA-2018:3083 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jul 8, 2026
- RHSA-2018:3096 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jul 8, 2026
- RHSA-2020:3810 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jul 1, 2026
- RHSA-2020:3804 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jul 1, 2026
- RHSA-2018:2948 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-alt security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jul 1, 2026
- USN-3910-2 linux-lts-xenial, linux-aws vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 3, 2026
- USN-3752-1 linux, linux-aws, linux-gcp, linux-kvm, linux-raspi2 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 3, 2026
- USN-3910-1 linux, linux-aws, linux-kvm, linux-raspi2, linux-snapdragon vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 3, 2026
- USN-3752-3 linux-azure, linux-oem, linux-gcp vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 3, 2026
- USN-3752-2 linux-hwe vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 3, 2026
- DLA-1423-1 linux-4.9 - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2019:0320-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2019:1287-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2019:0148-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:2092-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2019:0541-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- ELSA-2018-3083 Important: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Nov 5, 2018
- ALAS2-2018-1038 Important: kernel security update (Amazon Linux 2) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Sep 15, 2018
References
- USN-3752-2 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2018:3083 vendor-advisory
- 104229 vdb-entry
- USN-3752-3 vendor-advisory
- GLSA-201805-14 vendor-advisory
- 44806 exploit
- USN-3910-1 vendor-advisory
- https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=7f7ccc2ccc2e70c6054685f5e3522efa81556830
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2018-1120
- USN-3910-2 vendor-advisory
- [debian-lts-announce] 20180718 [SECURITY] [DLA 1423-1] linux-4.9 new package mailing-list
- RHSA-2018:2948 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20180517 Qualys Security Advisory - Procps-ng Audit Report mailing-list
- USN-3752-1 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2018:3096 vendor-advisory