Vulnerability identifier: #VU45141

Vulnerability risk: Low

CVSSv3.1: 3.8 [CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N/E:U/RL:O/RC:C]

CVE-ID: CVE-2011-1163

CWE-ID: CWE-20

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 gain access to sensitive information.

The osf_partition function in fs/partitions/osf.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.38 does not properly handle an invalid number of partitions, which might allow local users to obtain potentially sensitive information from kernel heap memory via vectors related to partition-table parsing.

Mitigation
Install update from vendor's website.

Vulnerable software versions

Linux kernel: 2.6.0 - 2.6.37.6

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External links
http://downloads.avaya.com/css/P8/documents/100145416
http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git;a=commit;h=1eafbfeb7bdf59cfe173304c76188f3fd5f1fd05
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2015-04/msg00020.html
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/03/15/14
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/03/15/9
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2011-0833.html
http://securityreason.com/securityalert/8189
http://securitytracker.com/id?1025225
http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.38
http://www.pre-cert.de/advisories/PRE-SA-2011-02.txt
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/517050
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/46878
http://www.spinics.net/lists/mm-commits/msg82737.html
http://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=688021

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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.