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CVE-2011-4080

4.0 · MEDIUM

The sysrq_sysctl_handler function in kernel/sysctl.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.39 does not require the CAP_SYS_ADMIN capability to modify the dmesg_restrict value, which allows local users to…

Published May 24, 2012linuxCWE-264EPSS 0.35%

Overview

CVE-2011-4080 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting linux linux_kernel. It was published on May 24, 2012 and has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 4.0 (MEDIUM).

This vulnerability has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 4.0, rated MEDIUM. It requires local or adjacent network access to exploit. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.

Technical description

The sysrq_sysctl_handler function in kernel/sysctl.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.39 does not require the CAP_SYS_ADMIN capability to modify the dmesg_restrict value, which allows local users to bypass intended access restrictions and read the kernel ring buffer by leveraging root privileges, as demonstrated by a root user in a Linux Containers (aka LXC) environment.

Remediation

Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from linux. Update linux_kernel to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.

Affected products

VendorProductVersionsStatus
linuxlinux_kernel>= 0, < 2.6.39Affected

References

Refftp.osuosl.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.39Refgit.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=bfdc0b497faa82a0ba2f9dddcf109231dd519fccRefwww.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/10/26/10GitHubgithub.com/torvalds/linux/commit/bfdc0b497faa82a0ba2f9dddcf109231dd519fccRefftp.osuosl.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.39Refgit.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=bfdc0b497faa82a0ba2f9dddcf109231dd519fccRefwww.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/10/26/10GitHubgithub.com/torvalds/linux/commit/bfdc0b497faa82a0ba2f9dddcf109231dd519fcc

How CyberStrike helps

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2011-4080?

CVE-2011-4080 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting linux linux_kernel. It was published on May 24, 2012 and has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 4.0 (MEDIUM).

How severe is CVE-2011-4080?

This vulnerability has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 4.0, rated MEDIUM. It requires local or adjacent network access to exploit. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.

How do I fix or remediate CVE-2011-4080?

Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from linux. Update linux_kernel to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.

How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2011-4080?

CyberStrike is an open-source, AI-augmented pentesting engine. Rather than flag a version number, it tests whether an issue like CVE-2011-4080 is actually reachable in your own applications and APIs, then verifies each finding before reporting it. That tells you if the weakness is a real, exploitable risk in your environment or a false positive you can safely deprioritize.

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