CVE-2011-2479

Publication date 6 October 2011

Last updated 25 August 2025

Ubuntu priority

Medium

Why this priority?

Cvss 3 Severity Score

5.5 · Medium

Score breakdown

Description

The Linux kernel before 2.6.39 does not properly create transparent huge pages in response to a MAP_PRIVATE mmap system call on /dev/zero, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (system crash) via a crafted application.

From the Ubuntu Security Team

It was discovered that an mmap() call with the MAP_PRIVATE flag on "/dev/zero" was incorrectly handled. A local attacker could exploit this to crash the system, leading to a denial of service.

Status

Package Ubuntu Release Status
linux 11.10 oneiric
Not affected
11.04 natty
Fixed 2.6.38-10.44
10.10 maverick
Not affected
10.04 LTS lucid
Not affected
8.04 LTS hardy
Not affected
linux-ec2 11.10 oneiric Not in release
11.04 natty Not in release
10.10 maverick Ignored end of life
10.04 LTS lucid
Not affected
8.04 LTS hardy Not in release
linux-fsl-imx51 11.10 oneiric Not in release
11.04 natty Not in release
10.10 maverick Not in release
10.04 LTS lucid
Not affected
8.04 LTS hardy Not in release
linux-lts-backport-maverick 11.10 oneiric Not in release
11.04 natty Not in release
10.10 maverick Not in release
10.04 LTS lucid
Not affected
8.04 LTS hardy Not in release
linux-lts-backport-natty 11.10 oneiric Not in release
11.04 natty Not in release
10.10 maverick Not in release
10.04 LTS lucid
Fixed 2.6.38-10.44~lucid1
8.04 LTS hardy Not in release
linux-lts-backport-oneiric 11.10 oneiric Not in release
11.04 natty Not in release
10.10 maverick Not in release
10.04 LTS lucid
Not affected
8.04 LTS hardy Not in release
linux-mvl-dove 11.10 oneiric Not in release
11.04 natty Not in release
10.10 maverick
Not affected
10.04 LTS lucid
Not affected
8.04 LTS hardy Not in release
linux-ti-omap4 11.10 oneiric
Not affected
11.04 natty
Fixed 2.6.38-1209.17
10.10 maverick
Not affected
10.04 LTS lucid Not in release
8.04 LTS hardy Not in release

Patch details

For informational purposes only. We recommend not to cherry-pick updates. How can I get the fixes?

Package Patch details
linux

Severity score breakdown

Parameter Value
Base score 5.5 · Medium
Attack vector Local
Attack complexity Low
Privileges required Low
User interaction None
Scope Unchanged
Confidentiality None
Integrity impact None
Availability impact High
Vector CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

References

Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

    • USN-1281-1
    • Linux (OMAP4) vulnerabilities
    • 24 November 2011
    • USN-1167-1
    • Linux kernel vulnerabilities
    • 13 July 2011
    • USN-1256-1
    • Linux kernel (Natty backport) vulnerabilities
    • 9 November 2011

Other references