Updated kernel packages that fix multiple security issues and several bugs are now available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.

The Red Hat Security Response Team has rated this update as having important security impact. Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) base scores, which give detailed severity ratings, are available for each vulnerability from the CVE links in the References section.

The kernel packages contain the Linux kernel, the core of any Linux operating system.

This update fixes the following security issues :

* A flaw was found in the way the Linux kernel's Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) implementation handled duplicate cookies.
If a local user queried SCTP connection information at the same time a remote attacker has initialized a crafted SCTP connection to the system, it could trigger a NULL pointer dereference, causing the system to crash. (CVE-2013-2206, Important)

* It was found that the fix for CVE-2012-3552 released via RHSA-2012:1304 introduced an invalid free flaw in the Linux kernel's TCP/IP protocol suite implementation. A local, unprivileged user could use this flaw to corrupt kernel memory via crafted sendmsg() calls, allowing them to cause a denial of service or, potentially, escalate their privileges on the system. (CVE-2013-2224, Important)

* A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's Performance Events implementation. On systems with certain Intel processors, a local, unprivileged user could use this flaw to cause a denial of service by leveraging the perf subsystem to write into the reserved bits of the OFFCORE_RSP_0 and OFFCORE_RSP_1 model-specific registers.
(CVE-2013-2146, Moderate)

* An invalid pointer dereference flaw was found in the Linux kernel's TCP/IP protocol suite implementation. A local, unprivileged user could use this flaw to crash the system or, potentially, escalate their privileges on the system by using sendmsg() with an IPv6 socket connected to an IPv4 destination. (CVE-2013-2232, Moderate)

* Information leak flaws in the Linux kernel's Bluetooth implementation could allow a local, unprivileged user to leak kernel memory to user-space. (CVE-2012-6544, Low)

* An information leak flaw in the Linux kernel could allow a privileged, local user to leak kernel memory to user-space.
(CVE-2013-2237, Low)

This update also fixes several bugs. Documentation for these changes will be available shortly from the Technical Notes document linked to in the References section.

Users should upgrade to these updated packages, which contain backported patches to correct these issues. The system must be rebooted for this update to take effect.

The Unity Linux 20 host has a package installed that is affected by a vulnerability as referenced in the UTSA-2026-000627 advisory.

    arch/x86/kernel/cpu/perf_event_intel.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9, when the Performance Events     Subsystem is enabled, specifies an incorrect bitmask, which allows local users to cause a denial of     service (general protection fault and system crash) by attempting to set a reserved bit.

Tenable has extracted the preceding description block directly from the Unity Linux security advisory.

Note that Nessus has not tested for this issue but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version number.

An information leak was discovered in the Linux kernel when inotify is used to monitor the /dev/ptmx device. A local user could exploit this flaw to discover keystroke timing and potentially discover sensitive information like password length. (CVE-2013-0160)

An information leak was discovered in the Linux kernel's tkill and tgkill system calls when used from compat processes. A local user could exploit this flaw to examine potentially sensitive kernel memory. (CVE-2013-2141)

A flaw was discovered in the Linux kernel's perf events subsystem for Intel Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge processors. A local user could exploit this flaw to cause a denial of service (system crash).
(CVE-2013-2146)

An information leak was discovered in the Linux kernel's crypto API. A local user could exploit this flaw to examine potentially sensitive information from the kernel's stack memory. (CVE-2013-3076)

An information leak was discovered in the Linux kernel's rcvmsg path for ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode). A local user could exploit this flaw to examine potentially sensitive information from the kernel's stack memory. (CVE-2013-3222)

An information leak was discovered in the Linux kernel's recvmsg path for ax25 address family. A local user could exploit this flaw to examine potentially sensitive information from the kernel's stack memory. (CVE-2013-3223)

An information leak was discovered in the Linux kernel's recvmsg path for the bluetooth address family. A local user could exploit this flaw to examine potentially sensitive information from the kernel's stack memory. (CVE-2013-3224)

An information leak was discovered in the Linux kernel's bluetooth rfcomm protocol support. A local user could exploit this flaw to examine potentially sensitive information from the kernel's stack memory. (CVE-2013-3225)

An information leak was discovered in the Linux kernel's CAIF protocol implementation. A local user could exploit this flaw to examine potentially sensitive information from the kernel's stack memory.
(CVE-2013-3227)

An information leak was discovered in the Linux kernel's IRDA (infrared) support subsystem. A local user could exploit this flaw to examine potentially sensitive information from the kernel's stack memory. (CVE-2013-3228)

An information leak was discovered in the Linux kernel's s390 - z/VM support. A local user could exploit this flaw to examine potentially sensitive information from the kernel's stack memory. (CVE-2013-3229)

An information leak was discovered in the Linux kernel's l2tp (Layer Two Tunneling Protocol) implementation. A local user could exploit this flaw to examine potentially sensitive information from the kernel's stack memory. (CVE-2013-3230)

An information leak was discovered in the Linux kernel's llc (Logical Link Layer 2) support. A local user could exploit this flaw to examine potentially sensitive information from the kernel's stack memory.
(CVE-2013-3231)

An information leak was discovered in the Linux kernel's receive message handling for the netrom address family. A local user could exploit this flaw to obtain sensitive information from the kernel's stack memory. (CVE-2013-3232)

An information leak was discovered in the Linux kernel's nfc (near field communication) support. A local user could exploit this flaw to examine potentially sensitive information from the kernel's stack memory. (CVE-2013-3233)

An information leak was discovered in the Linux kernel's Rose X.25 protocol layer. A local user could exploit this flaw to examine potentially sensitive information from the kernel's stack memory.
(CVE-2013-3234)

An information leak was discovered in the Linux kernel's TIPC (Transparent Inter Process Communication) protocol implementation. A local user could exploit this flaw to examine potentially sensitive information from the kernel's stack memory. (CVE-2013-3235).

Note that Tenable Network Security has extracted the preceding description block directly from the Ubuntu security advisory. Tenable has attempted to automatically clean and format it as much as possible without introducing additional issues.

Multiple vulnerabilities has been found and corrected in the Linux kernel :

The scm_set_cred function in include/net/scm.h in the Linux kernel before 3.8.11 uses incorrect uid and gid values during credentials passing, which allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted application. (CVE-2013-1979)

The nr_recvmsg function in net/netrom/af_netrom.c in the Linux kernel before 3.9-rc7 does not initialize a certain data structure, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel stack memory via a crafted recvmsg or recvfrom system call. (CVE-2013-3232)

net/tipc/socket.c in the Linux kernel before 3.9-rc7 does not initialize a certain data structure and a certain length variable, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel stack memory via a crafted recvmsg or recvfrom system call.
(CVE-2013-3235)

The rose_recvmsg function in net/rose/af_rose.c in the Linux kernel before 3.9-rc7 does not initialize a certain data structure, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel stack memory via a crafted recvmsg or recvfrom system call. (CVE-2013-3234)

The llcp_sock_recvmsg function in net/nfc/llcp/sock.c in the Linux kernel before 3.9-rc7 does not initialize a certain length variable and a certain data structure, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel stack memory via a crafted recvmsg or recvfrom system call. (CVE-2013-3233)

The llc_ui_recvmsg function in net/llc/af_llc.c in the Linux kernel before 3.9-rc7 does not initialize a certain length variable, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel stack memory via a crafted recvmsg or recvfrom system call. (CVE-2013-3231)

The iucv_sock_recvmsg function in net/iucv/af_iucv.c in the Linux kernel before 3.9-rc7 does not initialize a certain length variable, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel stack memory via a crafted recvmsg or recvfrom system call.
(CVE-2013-3229)

The irda_recvmsg_dgram function in net/irda/af_irda.c in the Linux kernel before 3.9-rc7 does not initialize a certain length variable, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel stack memory via a crafted recvmsg or recvfrom system call.
(CVE-2013-3228)

The caif_seqpkt_recvmsg function in net/caif/caif_socket.c in the Linux kernel before 3.9-rc7 does not initialize a certain length variable, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel stack memory via a crafted recvmsg or recvfrom system call. (CVE-2013-3227)

The rfcomm_sock_recvmsg function in net/bluetooth/rfcomm/sock.c in the Linux kernel before 3.9-rc7 does not initialize a certain length variable, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel stack memory via a crafted recvmsg or recvfrom system call. (CVE-2013-3225)

The bt_sock_recvmsg function in net/bluetooth/af_bluetooth.c in the Linux kernel before 3.9-rc7 does not properly initialize a certain length variable, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel stack memory via a crafted recvmsg or recvfrom system call. (CVE-2013-3224)

The ax25_recvmsg function in net/ax25/af_ax25.c in the Linux kernel before 3.9-rc7 does not initialize a certain data structure, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel stack memory via a crafted recvmsg or recvfrom system call. (CVE-2013-3223)

The vcc_recvmsg function in net/atm/common.c in the Linux kernel before 3.9-rc7 does not initialize a certain length variable, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel stack memory via a crafted recvmsg or recvfrom system call. (CVE-2013-3222)

Integer overflow in the fb_mmap function in drivers/video/fbmem.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9, as used in a certain Motorola build of Android 4.1.2 and other products, allows local users to create a read-write memory mapping for the entirety of kernel memory, and consequently gain privileges, via crafted /dev/graphics/fb0 mmap2 system calls, as demonstrated by the Motochopper pwn program.
(CVE-2013-2596)

arch/x86/kernel/cpu/perf_event_intel.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9, when the Performance Events Subsystem is enabled, specifies an incorrect bitmask, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (general protection fault and system crash) by attempting to set a reserved bit. (CVE-2013-2146)

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. (CVE-2013-2094)

The ioapic_read_indirect function in virt/kvm/ioapic.c in the Linux kernel through 3.8.4 does not properly handle a certain combination of invalid IOAPIC_REG_SELECT and IOAPIC_REG_WINDOW operations, which allows guest OS users to obtain sensitive information from host OS memory or cause a denial of service (host OS OOPS) via a crafted application. (CVE-2013-1798)

Use-after-free vulnerability in arch/x86/kvm/x86.c in the Linux kernel through 3.8.4 allows guest OS users to cause a denial of service (host OS memory corruption) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted application that triggers use of a guest physical address (GPA) in (1) movable or (2) removable memory during an MSR_KVM_SYSTEM_TIME kvm_set_msr_common operation. (CVE-2013-1797)

The kvm_set_msr_common function in arch/x86/kvm/x86.c in the Linux kernel through 3.8.4 does not ensure a required time_page alignment during an MSR_KVM_SYSTEM_TIME operation, which allows guest OS users to cause a denial of service (buffer overflow and host OS memory corruption) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted application. (CVE-2013-1796)

The do_tkill function in kernel/signal.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9 does not initialize a certain data structure, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel memory via a crafted application that makes a (1) tkill or (2) tgkill system call.
(CVE-2013-2141)

Heap-based buffer overflow in the tg3_read_vpd function in drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/tg3.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.6 allows physically proximate attackers to cause a denial of service (system crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via crafted firmware that specifies a long string in the Vital Product Data (VPD) data structure. (CVE-2013-1929)

The main function in tools/hv/hv_kvp_daemon.c in hypervkvpd, as distributed in the Linux kernel before 3.8-rc1, allows local users to cause a denial of service (daemon exit) via a crafted application that sends a Netlink message. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incorrect fix for CVE-2012-2669. (CVE-2012-5532)

The udf_encode_fh function in fs/udf/namei.c in the Linux kernel before 3.6 does not initialize a certain structure member, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel heap memory via a crafted application. (CVE-2012-6548)

The isofs_export_encode_fh function in fs/isofs/export.c in the Linux kernel before 3.6 does not initialize a certain structure member, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel heap memory via a crafted application. (CVE-2012-6549)

net/dcb/dcbnl.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.4 does not initialize certain structures, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel stack memory via a crafted application.
(CVE-2013-2634)

The rtnl_fill_ifinfo function in net/core/rtnetlink.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.4 does not initialize a certain structure member, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel stack memory via a crafted application. (CVE-2013-2635)

fs/ext3/super.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.4 uses incorrect arguments to functions in certain circumstances related to printk input, which allows local users to conduct format-string attacks and possibly gain privileges via a crafted application. (CVE-2013-1848)

The flush_signal_handlers function in kernel/signal.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.4 preserves the value of the sa_restorer field across an exec operation, which makes it easier for local users to bypass the ASLR protection mechanism via a crafted application containing a sigaction system call. (CVE-2013-0914)

Heap-based buffer overflow in the wdm_in_callback function in drivers/usb/class/cdc-wdm.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.4 allows physically proximate attackers to cause a denial of service (system crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted cdc-wdm USB device. (CVE-2013-1860)

Race condition in the install_user_keyrings function in security/keys/process_keys.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.3 allows local users to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and system crash) via crafted keyctl system calls that trigger keyring operations in simultaneous threads. (CVE-2013-1792)

The report API in the crypto user configuration API in the Linux kernel through 3.8.2 uses an incorrect C library function for copying strings, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel stack memory by leveraging the CAP_NET_ADMIN capability.
(CVE-2013-2546)

The crypto_report_one function in crypto/crypto_user.c in the report API in the crypto user configuration API in the Linux kernel through 3.8.2 does not initialize certain structure members, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel heap memory by leveraging the CAP_NET_ADMIN capability. (CVE-2013-2547)

The crypto_report_one function in crypto/crypto_user.c in the report API in the crypto user configuration API in the Linux kernel through 3.8.2 uses an incorrect length value during a copy operation, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel memory by leveraging the CAP_NET_ADMIN capability. (CVE-2013-2548)

The translate_desc function in drivers/vhost/vhost.c in the Linux kernel before 3.7 does not properly handle cross-region descriptors, which allows guest OS users to obtain host OS privileges by leveraging KVM guest OS privileges. (CVE-2013-0311)

Array index error in the __sock_diag_rcv_msg function in net/core/sock_diag.c in the Linux kernel before 3.7.10 allows local users to gain privileges via a large family value in a Netlink message. (CVE-2013-1763)

The __skb_recv_datagram function in net/core/datagram.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8 does not properly handle the MSG_PEEK flag with zero-length data, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (infinite loop and system hang) via a crafted application.
(CVE-2013-0290)

Use-after-free vulnerability in the shmem_remount_fs function in mm/shmem.c in the Linux kernel before 3.7.10 allows local users to gain privileges or cause a denial of service (system crash) by remounting a tmpfs filesystem without specifying a required mpol (aka mempolicy) mount option. (CVE-2013-1767)

The xen_iret function in arch/x86/xen/xen-asm_32.S in the Linux kernel before 3.7.9 on 32-bit Xen paravirt_ops platforms does not properly handle an invalid value in the DS segment register, which allows guest OS users to gain guest OS privileges via a crafted application.
(CVE-2013-0228)

Memory leak in drivers/net/xen-netback/netback.c in the Xen netback functionality in the Linux kernel before 3.7.8 allows guest OS users to cause a denial of service (memory consumption) by triggering certain error conditions. (CVE-2013-0217)

The Xen netback functionality in the Linux kernel before 3.7.8 allows guest OS users to cause a denial of service (loop) by triggering ring pointer corruption. (CVE-2013-0216)

The __tun_chr_ioctl function in drivers/net/tun.c in the Linux kernel before 3.6 does not initialize a certain structure, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel stack memory via a crafted application. (CVE-2012-6547)

The updated packages provides a solution for these security issues.

ID	Name	Product	Family	Published	Updated	Severity
69496	CentOS 6 : kernel (CESA-2013:1173)	Nessus	CentOS Local Security Checks	8/29/2013	1/4/2021	medium
290733	Unity Linux 20.1050e / 20.1060e / 20.1070e Security Update: kernel (UTSA-2026-000627)	Nessus	Unity Linux Local Security Checks	1/16/2026	1/16/2026	medium
66904	Ubuntu 12.10 : linux vulnerabilities (USN-1881-1)	Nessus	Ubuntu Local Security Checks	6/16/2013	9/19/2019	medium
72324	SuSE 11.3 Security Update : Linux kernel (SAT Patch Number 8826)	Nessus	SuSE Local Security Checks	2/5/2014	1/19/2021	high
66975	Mandriva Linux Security Advisory : kernel (MDVSA-2013:176)	Nessus	Mandriva Local Security Checks	6/25/2013	9/16/2022	high

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