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CVE-2011-4080

The sysrq_sysctl_handler function in kernel/sysctl.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.39 does not...

4.0 Medium

CVE-2011-4080 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 4.0) in Linux Kernel, published May 24, 2012. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.35%, the 29th percentile. No source names a fixed version.

What does this mean?
Severity
4.0 MediumCVSS 2.0, NVD
Exploit chance
0.35%EPSS, 29th percentile
Exploitation
None knownNot on CISA’s or ENISA’s lists
Fixed in
No fix listedNo source names one

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.

Exploit likelihood

0.35%Down 0.6 points since Feb 4, 2022
90%50%10%1%

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
kernel
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-debug
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-debug-debuginfo
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-debug-devel
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-debuginfo
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-debuginfo-common-i686
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-debuginfo-common-x86_64
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-devel
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-doc
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-firmware
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
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Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
kernel-headers
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
perf
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
perf-debuginfo
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
python-perf
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-debug
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-debug-debuginfo
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-debug-devel
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-debuginfo
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-debuginfo-common-x86_64
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-devel
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-doc
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-firmware
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-headers
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
perf
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
perf-debuginfo
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
python-perf
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-bootwrapper
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-debug
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-debug-debuginfo
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-debug-devel
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-debuginfo
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-debuginfo-common-i686
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-debuginfo-common-ppc64
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-debuginfo-common-s390x
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-debuginfo-common-x86_64
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-devel
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-doc
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-firmware
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-headers
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-kdump
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-kdump-debuginfo
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-kdump-devel
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
perf
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
perf-debuginfo
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
python-perf
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::workstation
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-debug
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::workstation
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-debug-debuginfo
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::workstation
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-debug-devel
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::workstation
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-debuginfo
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::workstation
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-debuginfo-common-i686
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::workstation
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-debuginfo-common-x86_64
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::workstation
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-devel
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::workstation
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-doc
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::workstation
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-firmware
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::workstation
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
kernel-headers
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::workstation
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
perf
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::workstation
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
perf-debuginfo
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::workstation
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
python-perf
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::workstation
From an advisory covering 4 CVEs
before 0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6
0:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6

What each source reports

NVD Score used4.0

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.

Record
CVE-2011-4080
CVSS 2.0
4.0 MediumAV:L/AC:H/Au:N/C:C/I:N/A:N
Weakness
CWE-264
Updated
2026-11-02
CVE ListNo score

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.

Record
CVE-2011-4080
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2011-4031No score

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.

Record
EUVD-2011-4031
Updated
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-j72v-r3gf-6w7rNo score

The sysrq_sysctl_handler function in kernel/sysctl.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.39 does not...

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.

Record
GHSA-j72v-r3gf-6w7r
Updated
2026-11-02

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
affected, facts
aliasesEUVD
first indexedCVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

References

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