Linux Kernel 2.6.32.51 sysrq_sysctl_handler access control

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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Current Exploit Price (≈)
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CTI Interest Score
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4.9$0-$5k0.00

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel 2.6.32.51 (Operating System) and classified as problematic. Affected by this issue is the function sysrq_sysctl_handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a access control vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-264. Impacted is confidentiality. CVE summarizes:

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.

The issue has been introduced in 12/03/2009. The weakness was released 05/24/2012 (Website). The advisory is shared for download at github.com. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2011-4080 since 10/18/2011. The exploitation is known to be difficult. The attack needs to be approached locally. No form of authentication is required for exploitation. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 03/04/2025). The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1068.

The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 903 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $5k-$25k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 217491 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2011-4080), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (75875), Tenable (217491), SecurityFocus (BID 78409†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-54744†). Entries connected to this vulnerability are available at VDB-4416, VDB-4544, VDB-61074 and VDB-61073. If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Productinfo

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Vendor

Name

Version

License

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.1
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.9

VulDB Base Score: 5.1
VulDB Temp Score: 4.9
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Access control
CWE: CWE-264
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Local: Yes
Remote: No

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 217491
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2011-4080

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: no mitigation known
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Patch: bfdc0b497faa82a0ba2f9dddcf109231dd519fcc

Timelineinfo

12/03/2009 🔍
03/23/2011 +475 days 🔍
10/18/2011 +209 days 🔍
05/24/2012 +219 days 🔍
05/24/2012 +0 days 🔍
05/24/2012 +0 days 🔍
03/23/2015 +1033 days 🔍
12/02/2015 +254 days 🔍
03/04/2025 +3380 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: bfdc0b497faa82a0ba2f9dddcf109231dd519fcc
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2011-4080 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2011-4080
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-60836
X-Force: 75875
SecurityFocus: 78409 - kernel CVE-2011-4080 Security Bypass Vulnerability
Vulnerability Center: 54744 - Linux kernel before 2.6.3 Local Restriction Bypass Vulnerability, Low

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 03/23/2015 04:50 PM
Updated: 03/04/2025 08:09 AM
Changes: 03/23/2015 04:50 PM (52), 05/09/2018 12:02 PM (10), 12/02/2021 08:37 AM (5), 03/04/2025 08:09 AM (22)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 18:F74:40

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