Vulnerability identifier: #VU95766

Vulnerability 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-2005-2099

CWE-ID: CWE-399

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 perform service disruption.

The Linux kernel before 2.6.12.5 does not properly destroy a keyring that is not instantiated properly, which allows local users or remote attackers to cause a denial of service (kernel oops) via a keyring with a payload that is not empty, which causes the creation to fail, leading to a null dereference in the keyring destructor.

Mitigation
Install update from vendor's repository.

Vulnerable software versions

Linux kernel:

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External links
http://kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.12.5
http://secunia.com/advisories/16355/
http://secunia.com/advisories/17073
http://securitytracker.com/id?1014644
http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDKSA-2005:220
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2005-514.html
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/427980/100/0/threaded
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/14517
http://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A9079
http://usn.ubuntu.com/169-1/

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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.