CVE-2008-3832

Description

From CVE.org

A certain Fedora patch for the utrace subsystem in the Linux kernel before 2.6.26.5-28 on Fedora 8, and before 2.6.26.5-45 on Fedora 9, allows local users to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and system crash or hang) via a call to the utrace_control function.

Statement

Not vulnerable. This issue did not affect the version of utrace as shipped with the Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 kernel.

Understanding the Weakness (CWE)

Availability

Technical Impact: DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart

NULL pointer dereferences usually result in the failure of the process unless exception handling (on some platforms) is available and implemented. Even when exception handling is being used, it can still be very difficult to return the software to a safe state of operation.

Integrity,Confidentiality

Technical Impact: Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands; Read Memory; Modify Memory

In rare circumstances, when NULL is equivalent to the 0x0 memory address and privileged code can access it, then writing or reading memory is possible, which may lead to code execution.

Frequently Asked Questions

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