kernel: unlimited socket backlog DoS
Published May 26, 2011
7.5
HIGHCVSS 3.1
EPSS 3.89%
Description
The socket implementation in net/core/sock.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.34 does not properly manage a backlog of received packets, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption) by sending a large amount of network traffic, as demonstrated by netperf UDP tests.
Affected products
No data.
Configuration 1
- < 2.6.34
Configuration 3
- 4.0
No data.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
kernel-0:2.6.18-238.5.1.el5
Fixed · RHSA-2011:0303
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
kernel-0:2.6.32-131.0.15.el6
Fixed · RHSA-2011:0542
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.0 EUS - Server Only
kernel-0:2.6.32-71.31.1.el6
Fixed · RHSA-2011:0883
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4
kernel
Affected
| Product | Package | State | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | kernel-0:2.6.18-238.5.1.el5 | Fixed | RHSA-2011:0303 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | kernel-0:2.6.32-131.0.15.el6 | Fixed | RHSA-2011:0542 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.0 EUS - Server Only | kernel-0:2.6.32-71.31.1.el6 | Fixed | RHSA-2011:0883 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 | kernel | Affected | n/a |
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
Red Hat statement
This issue did not affect the versions of Linux kernel as shipped with Red Hat Enterprise MRG as they have already backported the fixes for this issue. Future kernel updates in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 may address this flaw. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 is now in Production 3 of the maintenance life-cycle, https://access.redhat.com/support/policy/updates/errata/, therefore the fix for this issue is not currently planned to be included in the future updates.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
No CVSS v3.0 score for this CVE.
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:C
This CVE is not in the KEV list.
No CISA SSVC assessment for this CVE yet.
Estimated probability of exploitation in the wild in the next 30 days (FIRST EPSS). As of Oct 3, 2026.
Score over time
2022–2026- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Percentile over time
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Table of values (10 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 3, 2026 | 3.89% (0.03890) | 89.93th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 3.92% (0.03922) | 88.95th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 2.15% (0.02150) | 83.07th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 2.16% (0.02159) | 89.74th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 2.16% (0.02159) | 87.53th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 1.41% (0.01408) | 72.89th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 13, 2023 | 1.41% (0.01408) | 72.37th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 3, 2023 | 2.17% (0.02172) | 80.18th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | 1.41% (0.01408) | 70.87th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 1.41% (0.01408) | 49.94th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
References (11)
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=8eae939f1400326b06d0c9afe53d2a484a326871 x_refsource_CONFIRM
- http://kerneltrap.org/mailarchive/linux-netdev/2010/3/3/6271093/thread mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTBroken Link
- http://secunia.com/advisories/46397 third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIABroken Link
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.34 x_refsource_CONFIRMBroken Link
- http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/520102/100/0/threaded mailing-listx_refsource_BUGTRAQThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/46637 vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2011-0012.html x_refsource_CONFIRMPatchThird Party Advisory
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2010-4251 Vendor Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=657303 x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2010-4251
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2010-4251
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.