Linux · Kernel
CVE-2013-2094
Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
What it is
The perf_swevent_init function in kernel/events/core.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9 uses an incorrect integer data type, which allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted perf_event_open system call.
CISA: Linux kernel fails to check all 64 bits of attr.config passed by user space, resulting to out-of-bounds access of the perf_swevent_enabled array in sw_perf_event_destroy(). Explotation allows for privilege escalation.
What to do
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Deadline for US federal agencies: October 6, 2022
- Added to the CISA list
- September 15, 2022
- Published
- May 14, 2013
- Severity
- High 8.4 CVSS 3.1
- Chance of attacks in the next 30 days (EPSS)
- 48% in the top 1.2% of all known vulnerabilities
- Weakness
- CWE-189
- More details
- NVD · CVE.org · CISA
All references (20)
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2013-05/msg00018.html
- http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2013:176
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1826-1
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1838-1
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1828-1
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1827-1
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1836-1
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0830.html
- http://lkml.indiana.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/1304.1/04302.html
- http://lkml.indiana.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/1304.1/03652.html
- http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2013-May/019733.html
- http://lkml.indiana.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/1304.1/03976.html
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=962792
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/8176cced706b5e5d15887584150764894e94e02f
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/ChangeLog-3.8.9
- http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos-announce/2013-May/019729.html
- http://www.osvdb.org/93361
- http://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/33589
- http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5703758
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2013/05/14/6
More exploited flaws from Linux
| Added | Vulnerability | Product | Severity | Attack chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 18, 2026 | Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions | Kernel | Critical 9.8 | 3.3% |
| Sep 18, 2026 | Race Condition | Kernel | High 7.8 | 1.6% |
| Sep 18, 2026 | Out-of-Bounds Write | Kernel | High 8.8 | 0.9% |
| Aug 27, 2026 | Unspecified | Kernel | High 7.8 | 0.7% |
| Aug 26, 2026 | Out-of-Bounds Write | Kernel | High 7.8 | 8.9% |
| Jun 2, 2026 | Improper Authentication | Kernel | High 7.8 | 5.5% |
| May 1, 2026 | Incorrect Resource Transfer Between Spheres | Kernel | High 7.8 | 98% |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Integer Overflow | Kernel | High 7.8 | 15% |
Sources: Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (CISA, public domain), CVE records (cve.org) and EPSS (FIRST). The chance of attacks is the EPSS estimate that someone will try to exploit the flaw in the next 30 days.