A memory leak in the kernel_read_file function in fs/exec.c in the Linux kernel through…
Priority MEDIUM 42CWE-401Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 4 fixed, 1 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-401.
Summary
A memory leak in the kernel_read_file function in fs/exec.c in the Linux kernel through 4.20.11 allows attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption) by triggering vfs_read failures.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.05918 93rd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Red Hat: 2 advisoriesRed Hat: 4 fixed, 1 without a fix
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 · 8
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.7 to before 4.9.163; 4.14 to before 4.14.106; 4.19 to before 4.19.28; 4.20 to before 4.20.15; 5.0 to before 5.0.1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.1:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.1 rc1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| 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:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.7 to before 4.9.163; 4.14 to before 4.14.106; 4.19 to before 4.19.28; 4.20 to before 4.20.15; 5.0 to before 5.0.1 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.1:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.1 rc1 Vulnerable ·Linux
- 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
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
Remediation
Red Hat 2 advisories
- RHSA-2020:1769 Released 2020-04-28 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 8) kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.18.0-193.el8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) bpftool-4.18.0-193.el8, kernel-4.18.0-193.el8, kernel-abi-whitelists-4.18.0-193.el8 +19
- RHSA-2020:1567 Released 2020-04-28 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel-rt security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-193.rt13.51.el8, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-193.rt13.51.el8, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-193.rt13.51.el8 +7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-193.rt13.51.el8, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-193.rt13.51.el8, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-193.rt13.51.el8 +9
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:1769 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:1769 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:1567 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:1567 |
Not affected: 4 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2019-8980
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-2xr8-28cv-28vv
References
Advisory 7
Sources
- CVE-2019-8980 · CVE Program
- CVE-2019-8980 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-2xr8-28cv-28vv · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2019-8980 · 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