kernel: excessive in kernel CPU consumption when creating large nested epoll structures
Published Apr 3, 2011
4.9
MEDIUMCVSS 2.0
EPSS 0.80%
Description
The epoll implementation in the Linux kernel 2.6.37.2 and earlier does not properly traverse a tree of epoll file descriptors, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption) via a crafted application that makes epoll_create and epoll_ctl system calls.
Affected products
No data.
Configuration 1
- ≤ 2.6.37.2
Configuration 2
- 11
- 11
- 11
- 11
- 11
- 11
Configuration 3
- 6.0
- 6.0
- 6.0
No data.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
kernel-0:2.6.18-308.el5
Fixed · RHSA-2012:0150
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
kernel-0:2.6.32-279.el6
Fixed · RHSA-2012:0862
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.2 EUS - Server and Compute Node Only
kernel-0:2.6.32-220.24.1.el6
Fixed · RHSA-2012:1129
Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2
kernel-rt-0:3.0.25-rt44.57.el6rt
Fixed · RHBA-2012:0496
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4
kernel
Will not fix
| Product | Package | State | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | kernel-0:2.6.18-308.el5 | Fixed | RHSA-2012:0150 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | kernel-0:2.6.32-279.el6 | Fixed | RHSA-2012:0862 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.2 EUS - Server and Compute Node Only | kernel-0:2.6.32-220.24.1.el6 | Fixed | RHSA-2012:1129 |
| Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2 | kernel-rt-0:3.0.25-rt44.57.el6rt | Fixed | RHBA-2012:0496 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 | kernel | Will not fix | n/a |
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
Red Hat statement
This issue affected the versions of Linux kernel as shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4, 5, 6, and Red Hat Enterprise MRG. It was addressed in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 and 6 via RHSA-2012:0150 and RHSA-2012:0862 respectively. There is no plan to address this flaw in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4. Future updates may address this issue in Red Hat Enterprise MRG.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v3.1 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v3.0 score for this CVE.
AV:L/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 1, 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 (8 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 0.80% (0.00795) | 54.81th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 0.80% (0.00795) | 51.44th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 0.17% (0.00172) | 36.13th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 0.04% (0.00042) | 0.34th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 0.04% (0.00042) | 0.50th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 3.22% (0.03220) | 84.21th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | 3.22% (0.03220) | 82.61th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 3.22% (0.03220) | 65.30th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
References (18)
- http://article.gmane.org/gmane.linux.kernel/1105744 mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTBroken Link
- http://article.gmane.org/gmane.linux.kernel/1105888 mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTBroken Link
- http://article.gmane.org/gmane.linux.kernel/1106686 mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTBroken Link
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2012-04/msg00021.html vendor-advisoryx_refsource_SUSEMailing ListThird Party Advisory
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2012-05/msg00013.html vendor-advisoryx_refsource_SUSEMailing ListThird Party Advisory
- http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/03/02/1 mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing ListPatchThird Party Advisory
- http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/03/02/2 mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing ListPatch
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2012-0862.html vendor-advisoryx_refsource_REDHATThird Party Advisory
- http://secunia.com/advisories/43522 third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAThird Party Advisory
- http://secunia.com/advisories/48115 third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAThird Party Advisory
- http://secunia.com/advisories/48410 third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAThird Party Advisory
- http://secunia.com/advisories/48898 third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAThird Party Advisory
- http://secunia.com/advisories/48964 third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAThird Party Advisory
- http://www.osvdb.org/71265 vdb-entryx_refsource_OSVDBBroken Link
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2011-1083 Vendor Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=681578 x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-1083
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2011-1083
| Link | Providers | Tags |
|---|---|---|
| http://article.gmane.org/gmane.linux.kernel/1105744 | mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTBroken Link | |
| http://article.gmane.org/gmane.linux.kernel/1105888 | mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTBroken Link | |
| http://article.gmane.org/gmane.linux.kernel/1106686 | mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTBroken Link | |
| http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2012-04/msg00021.html | vendor-advisoryx_refsource_SUSEMailing ListThird Party Advisory | |
| http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2012-05/msg00013.html | vendor-advisoryx_refsource_SUSEMailing ListThird Party Advisory | |
| http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/03/02/1 | mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing ListPatchThird Party Advisory | |
| http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/03/02/2 | mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing ListPatch | |
| http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2012-0862.html | vendor-advisoryx_refsource_REDHATThird Party Advisory | |
| http://secunia.com/advisories/43522 | third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAThird Party Advisory | |
| http://secunia.com/advisories/48115 | third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAThird Party Advisory | |
| http://secunia.com/advisories/48410 | third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAThird Party Advisory | |
| http://secunia.com/advisories/48898 | third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAThird Party Advisory | |
| http://secunia.com/advisories/48964 | third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAThird Party Advisory | |
| http://www.osvdb.org/71265 | vdb-entryx_refsource_OSVDBBroken Link | |
| https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2011-1083 | Vendor Advisory | |
| https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=681578 | x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory | |
| https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-1083 | ||
| https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2011-1083 |
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.