Linux kernel does not properly save or restore EFLAGS during a context switch, or reset…
Priority LOW 12Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- — Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · Partial
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
Linux kernel does not properly save or restore EFLAGS during a context switch, or reset the flags when creating new threads, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (process crash), as demonstrated using a process that sets the Alignment Check flag (EFLAGS 0x40000), which triggers a SIGBUS in other processes that have an unaligned access.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.00435 38th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 4
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.4.0 – 2.6.19 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:5.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.10 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:6.06:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.06 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:6.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.10 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.4.0 – 2.6.19 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:5.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.10 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:6.06:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.06 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:6.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.10 Vulnerable ·Canonical
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2006-5173
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-pm7g-vxcv-89q8
References
Sources
- CVE-2006-5173 · CVE Program
- CVE-2006-5173 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-pm7g-vxcv-89q8 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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