Null pointer dereference in Linux kernel

1) Null pointer dereference

EUVDB-ID: #VU92877

Risk: Low

CVSSv3.1: 4.6 [CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L/E:U/RL:O/RC:C]

CVE-ID: CVE-2005-2459

CWE-ID: CWE-476 - NULL Pointer Dereference

Exploit availability: No

Description

The vulnerability allows a remote non-authenticated attacker to perform service disruption.

The huft_build function in inflate.c in the zlib routines in the Linux kernel before 2.6.12.5 returns the wrong value, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (kernel crash) via a certain compressed file that leads to a null pointer dereference, a different vulnerability than CVE-2005-2458.

Mitigation

Install update from vendor's repository.

Vulnerable software versions

Linux kernel: All versions

External links

http://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=94584
http://kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.12.5
http://secunia.com/advisories/16355/
http://secunia.com/advisories/16500
http://secunia.com/advisories/17826
http://secunia.com/advisories/17918
http://secunia.com/advisories/18056
http://secunia.com/advisories/18059
http://www.debian.org/security/2005/dsa-921
http://www.debian.org/security/2005/dsa-922
http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDKSA-2005:219
http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDKSA-2005:220
http://www.novell.com/linux/security/advisories/2005_50_kernel.html
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/419522/100/0/threaded
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/14720
http://usn.ubuntu.com/169-1/

Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

Yes. This vulnerability can be exploited by a remote non-authenticated attacker via the Internet.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

No. We are not aware of malware exploiting this vulnerability.