The d_walk function in fs/dcache.c in the Linux kernel through 3.17.2 does not properly…
Priority LOW 26CWE-400Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-400.
Summary
The d_walk function in fs/dcache.c in the Linux kernel through 3.17.2 does not properly maintain the semantics of rename_lock, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (deadlock and system hang) via a crafted application.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.00738 54th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 3 exploit referencesTagged by NVD
Fix Fixed Red Hat: 3 advisories
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 · 13
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 3.17.2 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* | 12.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* | 14.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 14.10 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:novell:suse_linux_enterprise_desktop:12.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 12.0 | Vulnerable | Novell |
| cpe:2.3:o:novell:suse_linux_enterprise_server:12.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 12.0 | Vulnerable | Novell |
| cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:evergreen:11.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11.4 | Vulnerable | openSUSE |
| cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:opensuse:13.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 13.1 | Vulnerable | openSUSE |
| cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_real_time_extension:11:sp3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11 sp3 | Vulnerable | SUSE |
| cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_software_development_kit:12:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 12 | Vulnerable | SUSE |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 3.17.2 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* Versions 12.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* Versions 14.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 14.10 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:novell:suse_linux_enterprise_desktop:12.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 12.0 Vulnerable ·Novell
- cpe:2.3:o:novell:suse_linux_enterprise_server:12.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 12.0 Vulnerable ·Novell
- cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:evergreen:11.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.4 Vulnerable ·openSUSE
- cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:opensuse:13.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 13.1 Vulnerable ·openSUSE
- cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_real_time_extension:11:sp3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11 sp3 Vulnerable ·SUSE
- cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_software_development_kit:12:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 12 Vulnerable ·SUSE
Remediation
Red Hat 3 advisories
- RHSA-2015:1978 Released 2015-11-03 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) kernel-3.10.0-229.20.1.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-229.20.1.el7, kernel-debug-3.10.0-229.20.1.el7 +7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-229.20.1.el7, python-perf-3.10.0-229.20.1.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) kernel-3.10.0-229.20.1.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-229.20.1.el7, kernel-debug-3.10.0-229.20.1.el7 +7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-229.20.1.el7, python-perf-3.10.0-229.20.1.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) kernel-3.10.0-229.20.1.ael7b, kernel-3.10.0-229.20.1.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-229.20.1.ael7b +20
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) kernel-debug-devel-3.10.0-229.20.1.ael7b, kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-229.20.1.ael7b, kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-229.20.1.el7 +2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) kernel-3.10.0-229.20.1.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-229.20.1.el7, kernel-debug-3.10.0-229.20.1.el7 +7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-229.20.1.el7, python-perf-3.10.0-229.20.1.el7
- RHSA-2015:1977 Released 2015-11-03 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel-rt security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Realtime (v. 7) kernel-rt-3.10.0-229.20.1.rt56.141.14.el7_1, kernel-rt-debug-3.10.0-229.20.1.rt56.141.14.el7_1, kernel-rt-debug-devel-3.10.0-229.20.1.rt56.141.14.el7_1 +4
- RHSA-2015:1976 Released 2015-11-03 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel-rt security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat MRG Realtime for RHEL 6 Server v.2 kernel-rt-1:3.10.0-229.rt56.162.el6rt, kernel-rt-debug-1:3.10.0-229.rt56.162.el6rt, kernel-rt-debug-devel-1:3.10.0-229.rt56.162.el6rt +7
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1978 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1978 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1978 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1978 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Realtime (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1977 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1978 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1978 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1978 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1978 |
| Red Hat MRG Realtime for RHEL 6 Server v.2 | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1976 |
Not affected: 2 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2014-8559
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-qfrw-q7qp-v27x
References
Exploit 3
Patch 5
- [linux-kernel] 20141026 Re: fs: lockup on rename_mutex in fs/dcache.c:1035
- https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=ca5358ef75fc69fee5322a38a340f5739d997c10
- https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=946e51f2bf37f1656916eb75bd0742ba33983c28
- [linux-kernel] 20141026 Re: fs: lockup on rename_mutex in fs/dcache.c:1035
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1159313
Advisory 20
- USN-2515-1
- [linux-kernel] 20141026 Re: fs: lockup on rename_mutex in fs/dcache.c:1035
- SUSE-SU-2015:0736
- USN-2492-1
- RHSA-2015:1978
- [oss-security] 20141030 CVE-2014-8559 - Linux kernel fs/dcache.c incorrect use of rename_lock
- RHSA-2015:1976
- SUSE-SU-2015:0178
- [linux-kernel] 20141026 Re: fs: lockup on rename_mutex in fs/dcache.c:1035
- USN-2518-1
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinoct2015-2719645.html
- SUSE-SU-2015:0481
- openSUSE-SU-2015:0566
- [linux-kernel] 20141026 Re: fs: lockup on rename_mutex in fs/dcache.c:1035
- USN-2493-1
- SUSE-SU-2015:0529
- USN-2517-1
- openSUSE-SU-2015:0714
- USN-2516-1
- https://support.f5.com/csp/article/K05211147
Sources
- CVE-2014-8559 · CVE Program
- CVE-2014-8559 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-qfrw-q7qp-v27x · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2014-8559 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences