kernel: SLAB freelist randomization produces duplicate entries
Published Feb 6, 2017
7.8
HIGHCVSS 3.1
EPSS 0.42%
Description
The freelist-randomization feature in mm/slab.c in the Linux kernel 4.8.x and 4.9.x before 4.9.5 allows local users to cause a denial of service (duplicate freelist entries and system crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact in opportunistic circumstances by leveraging the selection of a large value for a random number.
Affected products
No data.
- ≥ 4.7 · < 4.9.5
No data.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
kernel
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
kernel
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
kernel
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
kernel-rt
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2
realtime-kernel
Not affected
| Product | Package | State | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | kernel | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | kernel | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | kernel | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | kernel-rt | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2 | realtime-kernel | Not affected | n/a |
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
No remediation recorded yet.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
AV:L/AC:L/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
2021–2026- EPSS v1
- EPSS v5
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
Percentile over time
- EPSS v1
- EPSS v5
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
Table of values (8 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 0.42% (0.00423) | 34.30th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Sep 20, 2026 | 0.42% (0.00423) | 36.24th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jul 20, 2024 | 0.04% (0.00042) | 5.06th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 0.04% (0.00042) | 5.63th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 1.03% (0.01034) | 41.69th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 1.03% (0.01034) | 20.32th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 3, 2022 | 0.97% (0.00967) | 26.07th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Apr 14, 2021 | 0.97% (0.00967) | 0.00th | v1 |
References (9)
- http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=c4e490cf148e85ead0d1b1c2caaba833f1d5b29f x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.9.5 x_refsource_CONFIRMRelease NotesVendor Advisory
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/01/21/3 mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing ListPatchThird Party Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/95711 vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-5546 Vendor Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1415733 x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingPatch
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/c4e490cf148e85ead0d1b1c2caaba833f1d5b29f x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-5546
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-5546
| Link | Providers | Tags |
|---|---|---|
| http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=c4e490cf148e85ead0d1b1c2caaba833f1d5b29f | x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory | |
| http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.9.5 | x_refsource_CONFIRMRelease NotesVendor Advisory | |
| http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/01/21/3 | mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing ListPatchThird Party Advisory | |
| http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/95711 | vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry | |
| https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-5546 | Vendor Advisory | |
| https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1415733 | x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingPatch | |
| https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/c4e490cf148e85ead0d1b1c2caaba833f1d5b29f | x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory | |
| https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-5546 | ||
| https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-5546 |
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.