Vulnerabilities
Misconfiguration
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CVE Vulnerabilities

CVE-2012-0879

Uncontrolled Resource Consumption

Published: May 17, 2012 | Modified: Apr 11, 2025
CVSS 3.x
5.5
MEDIUM
Source:
NVD
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
CVSS 2.x
4.9 MEDIUM
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:C
RedHat/V2
4.9 MODERATE
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:C
RedHat/V3
Ubuntu
LOW
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Additional information
NVDhttps://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-0879
CWEhttps://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/400.html

The I/O implementation for block devices in the Linux kernel before 2.6.33 does not properly handle the CLONE_IO feature, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (I/O instability) by starting multiple processes that share an I/O context.

Weakness

The product does not properly control the allocation and maintenance of a limited resource.

Affected Software

NameVendorStart VersionEnd Version
Linux_kernelLinux*2.6.33 (excluding)
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6RedHatkernel-0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6*
LinuxUbuntulucid*
LinuxUbuntumaverick*
LinuxUbuntuupstream*
Linux-armadaxpUbuntuupstream*
Linux-ec2Ubuntulucid*
Linux-ec2Ubuntumaverick*
Linux-ec2Ubuntuupstream*
Linux-fsl-imx51Ubuntulucid*
Linux-fsl-imx51Ubuntuupstream*
Linux-lts-backport-maverickUbuntulucid*
Linux-lts-backport-maverickUbuntuupstream*
Linux-lts-backport-nattyUbuntuupstream*
Linux-lts-backport-oneiricUbuntuupstream*
Linux-lts-quantalUbuntuupstream*
Linux-lts-raringUbuntuupstream*
Linux-mvl-doveUbuntulucid*
Linux-mvl-doveUbuntumaverick*
Linux-mvl-doveUbuntuupstream*
Linux-ti-omap4Ubuntumaverick*
Linux-ti-omap4Ubuntuupstream*

Potential Mitigations

  • Mitigation of resource exhaustion attacks requires that the target system either:

  • The first of these solutions is an issue in itself though, since it may allow attackers to prevent the use of the system by a particular valid user. If the attacker impersonates the valid user, they may be able to prevent the user from accessing the server in question.

  • The second solution is simply difficult to effectively institute – and even when properly done, it does not provide a full solution. It simply makes the attack require more resources on the part of the attacker.

References

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