kernel: mm: read_pmd_atomic: 32bit PAE pmd walk vs pmd_populate SMP race condition
Published Aug 9, 2012
4.0
MEDIUMCVSS 2.0
EPSS 0.26%
Description
The Linux kernel before 3.4.5 on the x86 platform, when Physical Address Extension (PAE) is enabled, does not properly use the Page Middle Directory (PMD), which allows local users to cause a denial of service (panic) via a crafted application that triggers a race condition.
Affected products
No data.
- ≤ 3.4.4
- 3.4
- 3.4
- 3.4
- 3.4
- 3.4
- 3.4
- 3.4
- 3.4
- 3.4.1
- 3.4.2
- 3.4.3
No data.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
kernel-0:2.6.32-220.23.1.el6
Fixed · RHSA-2012:0743
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
kernel
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2
realtime-kernel
Affected
| Product | Package | State | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | kernel-0:2.6.32-220.23.1.el6 | Fixed | RHSA-2012:0743 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | kernel | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2 | realtime-kernel | Affected | n/a |
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
Red Hat statement
This issue did not affect the versions of the Linux kernel as shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 and Red Hat Enterprise MRG. Kernel update RHSA-2012:0743 https://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2012-0743.html for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 did address this issue.
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:H/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 | 0.26% (0.00256) | 15.62th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 0.26% (0.00256) | 16.70th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 0.08% (0.00076) | 20.41th | 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 | 1.10% (0.01104) | 54.09th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 13, 2023 | 1.10% (0.01104) | 53.53th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 3, 2023 | 1.28% (0.01282) | 67.60th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Sep 17, 2022 | 1.10% (0.01104) | 52.45th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | 1.10% (0.01104) | 50.41th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 1.10% (0.01104) | 28.85th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
References (11)
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=26c191788f18129af0eb32a358cdaea0c7479626 x_refsource_CONFIRM
- http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=139447903326211&w=2 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_HP
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2012-0743.html vendor-advisoryx_refsource_REDHAT
- http://ubuntu.com/usn/usn-1529-1 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTU
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/ChangeLog-3.4.5 x_refsource_CONFIRM
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/05/18/11 mailing-listx_refsource_MLIST
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2012-2373 Vendor Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=822821 x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue Tracking
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/26c191788f18129af0eb32a358cdaea0c7479626 x_refsource_CONFIRMPatch
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-2373
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2012-2373
| Link | Providers | Tags |
|---|---|---|
| http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=26c191788f18129af0eb32a358cdaea0c7479626 | x_refsource_CONFIRM | |
| http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=139447903326211&w=2 | vendor-advisoryx_refsource_HP | |
| http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2012-0743.html | vendor-advisoryx_refsource_REDHAT | |
| http://ubuntu.com/usn/usn-1529-1 | vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTU | |
| http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/ChangeLog-3.4.5 | x_refsource_CONFIRM | |
| http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/05/18/11 | mailing-listx_refsource_MLIST | |
| https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2012-2373 | Vendor Advisory | |
| https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=822821 | x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue Tracking | |
| https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/26c191788f18129af0eb32a358cdaea0c7479626 | x_refsource_CONFIRMPatch | |
| https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-2373 | ||
| https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2012-2373 |
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.