kernel: thp: madvise on top of /dev/zero private mapping can lead to panic
Published Mar 1, 2013
5.5
MEDIUMCVSS 3.1
EPSS 0.51%
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.
Affected products
No data.
- < 2.6.39
No data.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
kernel-0:2.6.32-131.6.1.el6
Fixed · RHSA-2011:0928
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4
kernel
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
kernel
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2
realtime-kernel
Not affected
| Product | Package | State | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | kernel-0:2.6.32-131.6.1.el6 | Fixed | RHSA-2011:0928 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 | kernel | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | kernel | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2 | realtime-kernel | Not affected | n/a |
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
Red Hat statement
The versions of the Linux kernel as shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4, 5, and Red Hat Enterprise MRG are not affected because they do not provide support for THP (Transparent Huge Pages). This has been addressed in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 via https://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2011-0928.html.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
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 (11 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 0.51% (0.00513) | 41.54th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 0.51% (0.00513) | 39.39th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 0.06% (0.00061) | 16.44th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 0.04% (0.00042) | 5.07th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 0.04% (0.00042) | 5.63th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 0.95% (0.00950) | 32.28th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 13, 2023 | 0.95% (0.00950) | 31.86th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 3, 2023 | 1.03% (0.01034) | 40.96th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Sep 10, 2022 | 0.95% (0.00950) | 30.63th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | 0.95% (0.00950) | 28.61th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 0.95% (0.00950) | 13.46th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
References (8)
- http://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.39 x_refsource_CONFIRMThird Party Advisory
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=78f11a255749d09025f54d4e2df4fbcb031530e2 x_refsource_CONFIRM
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/06/20/14 mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing ListThird Party Advisory
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2011-2479 Vendor Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=714761 x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingThird Party Advisory
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/78f11a255749d09025f54d4e2df4fbcb031530e2 x_refsource_CONFIRMExploitPatchThird Party Advisory
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-2479
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2011-2479
| Link | Providers | Tags |
|---|---|---|
| http://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.39 | x_refsource_CONFIRMThird Party Advisory | |
| http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=78f11a255749d09025f54d4e2df4fbcb031530e2 | x_refsource_CONFIRM | |
| http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/06/20/14 | mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing ListThird Party Advisory | |
| https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2011-2479 | Vendor Advisory | |
| https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=714761 | x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingThird Party Advisory | |
| https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/78f11a255749d09025f54d4e2df4fbcb031530e2 | x_refsource_CONFIRMExploitPatchThird Party Advisory | |
| https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-2479 | ||
| https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2011-2479 |
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.