In the Linux kernel through 4.20.11, af_alg_release() in crypto/af_alg.c neglects to set…
Priority LOW 35CWE-416Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-416 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
In the Linux kernel through 4.20.11, af_alg_release() in crypto/af_alg.c neglects to set a NULL value for a certain structure member, which leads to a use-after-free in sockfs_setattr.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.00645 51st percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed Red Hat: 1 advisory
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 · 15
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.10 to before 4.14.103; 4.19 to before 4.19.25; 4.20 to before 4.20.12 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.0:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.0 rc1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.0:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.0 rc2 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.0:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.0 rc3 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.0:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.0 rc4 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.0:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.0 rc5 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.0:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.0 rc6 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.0:rc7:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.0 rc7 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.0:rc8:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.0 rc8 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.10 to before 4.14.103; 4.19 to before 4.19.25; 4.20 to before 4.20.12 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.0:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.0 rc1 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.0:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.0 rc2 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.0:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.0 rc3 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.0:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.0 rc4 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.0:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.0 rc5 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.0:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.0 rc6 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.0:rc7:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.0 rc7 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.0:rc8:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.0 rc8 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
Show 5 more CPE
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* | 14.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* | 16.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 18.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 18.10 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:15.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 15.0 | Vulnerable | openSUSE |
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* Versions 14.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* Versions 16.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 18.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 18.10 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:15.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 15.0 Vulnerable ·openSUSE
Remediation
Red Hat 1 advisory
- RHSA-2020:0174 Released 2020-01-21 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel-alt security and bug fix update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server (v. 7) kernel-4.14.0-115.17.1.el7a, kernel-abi-whitelists-4.14.0-115.17.1.el7a, kernel-alt-4.14.0-115.17.1.el7a +8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server Optional (v. 7) kernel-debug-devel-4.14.0-115.17.1.el7a, kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.14.0-115.17.1.el7a
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0174 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:0174 |
Not affected: 5 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2019-8912
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-4wpv-r6m6-xjq5
- 2026-10-20 EPSS moved to the 50th–90th percentile
References
Sources
- CVE-2019-8912 · CVE Program
- CVE-2019-8912 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-4wpv-r6m6-xjq5 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2019-8912 · 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