Description
A memory leak in the kernel_read_file function in fs/exec.c in the Linux kernel through 4.20.11 allows attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption) by triggering vfs_read failures.
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 | 4.19.28-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 4.19.28-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 4.19.28-1 | — |
| Debian 8 | linux-4.9 | 4.9.168-1~deb8u1 | DLA-1771-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux | 4.15.0-47.50 | USN-3931-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-aws | 4.15.0-1035.37 | USN-3931-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-azure | 4.18.0-1014.14~18.04.1 | USN-3930-2 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 4.15.0-1029.31 | USN-3931-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp-edge | 4.18.0-1008.9~18.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-hwe | 4.18.0-17.18~18.04.1 | USN-3930-2 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-kvm | 4.15.0-1031.31 | USN-3931-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-oem | 4.15.0-1035.40 | USN-3931-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 4.15.0-1010.12 | USN-3931-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-raspi2 | 4.15.0-1033.35 | USN-3931-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-aws-hwe | 4.15.0-1035.37~16.04.1 | USN-3931-2 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-azure | 4.15.0-1041.45 | USN-3931-2 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 4.15.0-1029.31~16.04.1 | USN-3931-2 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe | 4.15.0-47.50~16.04.1 | USN-3931-2 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 4.15.0-1010.12~16.04.1 | USN-3931-2 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux-azure | 4.15.0-1041.45~14.04.1 | USN-3931-2 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 8 | kernel-rt +12 | 4.18.0-193.rt13.51.el8 | RHSA-2020:1567 |
| RHEL 8 | perf +26 | 4.18.0-193.el8 | RHSA-2020:1769 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 | kernel-azure +2 | 4.12.14-5.24.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:0785-1 |
| SLES 15 | kernel-default +3 | 4.12.14-150.14.2 | SUSE-SU-2019:0784-1 |
| SLES 15 | kernel-docs +2 | 4.12.14-150.14.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:0784-1 |
| SLES 12 SP4 | kernel-azure +2 | 4.12.14-6.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:0767-1 |
| SLES 12 SP4 | kernel-docs +4 | 4.12.14-95.13.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:0765-1 |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP4 | kernel-azure +2 | 4.12.14-6.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:0767-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP4 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.12.14-95.13.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:0765-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 | kernel-default | 4.12.14-150.14.2 | SUSE-SU-2019:0784-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15_Update_9 | 1-1.9.3 | SUSE-SU-2019:0784-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 SP4 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP4_Update_3 | 1-6.7.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:0765-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Leap 15.0 | kernel-docs +8 | 4.12.14-lp150.12.58.1 | openSUSE-SU-2019:1193-1 |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2 | perf +8 | 4.14.106-97.85.amzn2 | ALAS2-2019-1179 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 8 | perf +19 | 4.18.0-193.el8 | ELSA-2020-1769 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | perf +10 | 4.14.35-1844.4.5.el7uek | ELSA-2019-4612 |
Advisories 14
- USN-3931-1 linux, linux-aws, linux-gcp, linux-kvm, linux-oem, linux-oracle, linux-raspi2 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Sep 7, 2026
- USN-3931-2 linux-hwe, linux-aws-hwe, linux-azure, linux-gcp, linux-oracle vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Sep 7, 2026
- USN-3930-2 linux-hwe, linux-azure vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Sep 7, 2026
- RHSA-2020:1769 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Aug 22, 2026
- RHSA-2020:1567 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Aug 7, 2026
- DLA-1771-1 linux-4.9 - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2019:0784-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2019:0765-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1193-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2019:0785-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2019:0767-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 2, 2025
- ELSA-2020-1769 Important: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update (Oracle Linux 8) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · May 5, 2020
- ELSA-2019-4612 Important: Unbreakable Enterprise kernel security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Apr 12, 2019
- ALAS2-2019-1179 Important: kernel security update (Amazon Linux 2) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Mar 28, 2019
References
- https://www.mail-archive.com/linux-kernel%40vger.kernel.org/msg1935705.html
- 107120 vdb-entry
- https://www.mail-archive.com/linux-kernel%40vger.kernel.org/msg1935698.html
- USN-3930-1 vendor-advisory
- USN-3931-1 vendor-advisory
- USN-3931-2 vendor-advisory
- USN-3930-2 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1193 vendor-advisory
- https://support.f5.com/csp/article/K56480726
- [debian-lts-announce] 20190503 [SECURITY] [DLA 1771-1] linux-4.9 security update mailing-list