kernel: proc: /proc/<pid>/mem mem_write insufficient permission checking
Published Jan 27, 2012
6.9
MEDIUMCVSS 2.0
EPSS 10.75%
Description
The mem_write function in the Linux kernel before 3.2.2, when ASLR is disabled, does not properly check permissions when writing to /proc/<pid>/mem, which allows local users to gain privileges by modifying process memory, as demonstrated by Mempodipper.
Affected products
No data.
- ≥ 2.6.39 · < 3.0.18
- ≥ 3.1 · < 3.2.2
No data.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
kernel-0:2.6.32-220.4.1.el6
Fixed · RHSA-2012:0052
Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2
kernel-rt-0:3.0.9-rt26.46.el6rt
Fixed · RHSA-2012:0061
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4
kernel
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
kernel
Will not fix
| Product | Package | State | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | kernel-0:2.6.32-220.4.1.el6 | Fixed | RHSA-2012:0052 |
| Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2 | kernel-rt-0:3.0.9-rt26.46.el6rt | Fixed | RHSA-2012:0061 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 | kernel | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | kernel | Will not fix | n/a |
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
Red Hat statement
This issue did not affect the version of Linux kernel as shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 and 5 as it did not backport the upstream commit 198214a7ee. This has been addressed in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 and Red Hat Enterprise MRG via https://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2012-0052.html and https://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2012-0061.html. For more information, please read https://access.redhat.com/kb/docs/DOC-69129.
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:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/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 (20 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 10.75% (0.10753) | 95.70th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 10.90% (0.10904) | 95.29th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| May 16, 2026 | 64.29% (0.64291) | 98.46th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Apr 20, 2026 | 73.86% (0.73863) | 98.83th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 25, 2026 | 76.66% (0.76657) | 98.93th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Feb 18, 2026 | 78.45% (0.78449) | 99.00th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 18, 2025 | 76.76% (0.76758) | 98.90th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Sep 27, 2025 | 78.07% (0.78070) | 98.98th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Aug 25, 2025 | 81.56% (0.81559) | 99.13th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Aug 8, 2025 | 82.83% (0.82826) | 99.19th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jul 13, 2025 | 81.56% (0.81559) | 99.12th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Apr 10, 2025 | 80.31% (0.80306) | 99.08th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 83.28% (0.83275) | 99.23th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 0.12% (0.00123) | 48.27th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Jul 28, 2023 | 0.12% (0.00123) | 45.75th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 0.04% (0.00042) | 0.50th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 3.48% (0.03482) | 84.81th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Apr 12, 2022 | 3.48% (0.03482) | 83.29th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | 3.80% (0.03801) | 84.06th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 3.80% (0.03801) | 67.26th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
References (17)
- http://blog.zx2c4.com/749 x_refsource_MISCThird Party Advisory
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=e268337dfe26dfc7efd422a804dbb27977a3cccc x_refsource_CONFIRMVendor Advisory
- http://secunia.com/advisories/47708 third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIABroken Link
- http://ubuntu.com/usn/usn-1336-1 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTUThird Party Advisory
- http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/470151 third-party-advisoryx_refsource_CERT-VNThird Party AdvisoryUS Government Resource
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/ChangeLog-3.2.2 x_refsource_CONFIRMVendor Advisory
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/01/18/1 mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing ListThird Party Advisory
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/01/18/2 mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing ListThird Party Advisory
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/01/19/4 mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing ListThird Party Advisory
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/01/22/4 mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing ListThird Party Advisory
- http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2012-0052.html vendor-advisoryx_refsource_REDHATThird Party Advisory
- http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2012-0061.html vendor-advisoryx_refsource_REDHATThird Party Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/51625 vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2012-0056 Vendor Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=782642 x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingThird Party Advisory
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-0056
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2012-0056
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.