#VU44351 Buffer overflow in Linux kernel - CVE-2011-4077

Vulnerability identifier: #VU44351

Vulnerability risk: High

CVSSv4.0: 6.1 [CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U/U:Amber]

CVE-ID: CVE-2011-4077

CWE-ID: CWE-119

Exploitation vector: Network

Exploit availability: No

Vulnerable software:
Linux kernel
Operating systems & Components / Operating system

Vendor: Linux Foundation

Description

The vulnerability allows a remote non-authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code.

Buffer overflow in the xfs_readlink function in fs/xfs/xfs_vnodeops.c in XFS in the Linux kernel 2.6, when CONFIG_XFS_DEBUG is disabled, allows local users to cause a denial of service (memory corruption and crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via an XFS image containing a symbolic link with a long pathname.

Mitigation
Install update from vendor's website.

Vulnerable software versions

Linux kernel: 2.6.0

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External links
https://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=139447903326211&w=2
https://oss.sgi.com/archives/xfs/2011-10/msg00345.html
https://secunia.com/advisories/48964
https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/10/26/1
https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/10/26/3
https://xorl.wordpress.com/2011/12/07/cve-2011-4077-linux-kernel-xfs-readlink-memory-corruption/
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=749156

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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.