An issue was discovered in the Linux kernel through 5.6.2.
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- High
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 16 fixed, 2 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
An issue was discovered in the Linux kernel through 5.6.2. mpol_parse_str in mm/mempolicy.c has a stack-based out-of-bounds write because an empty nodelist is mishandled during mount option parsing, aka CID-aa9f7d5172fa. NOTE: Someone in the security community disagrees that this is a vulnerability because the issue “is a bug in parsing mount options which can only be specified by a privileged user, so triggering the bug does not grant any powers not already held.”
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
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 · 5
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 5.6.2 | 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:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 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:20.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 20.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 5.6.2 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:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* 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:20.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 20.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
Remediation
Red Hat 5 advisories
- RHSA-2020:4609 Released 2020-11-04 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel-rt security and bug fix update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-240.rt7.54.el8, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-240.rt7.54.el8, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-240.rt7.54.el8 +7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-240.rt7.54.el8, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-240.rt7.54.el8, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-240.rt7.54.el8 +9
- RHSA-2020:4431 Released 2020-11-04 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 8) kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.18.0-240.el8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) bpftool-4.18.0-240.el8, kernel-4.18.0-240.el8, kernel-abi-whitelists-4.18.0-240.el8 +19
- RHSA-2020:4060 Released 2020-09-29 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) bpftool-3.10.0-1160.el7, kernel-3.10.0-1160.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-1160.el7 +8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-1160.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) bpftool-3.10.0-1160.el7, kernel-3.10.0-1160.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-1160.el7 +8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-1160.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) bpftool-3.10.0-1160.el7, kernel-3.10.0-1160.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-1160.el7 +11
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) kernel-debug-devel-3.10.0-1160.el7, kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-1160.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) bpftool-3.10.0-1160.el7, kernel-3.10.0-1160.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-1160.el7 +8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-1160.el7
Show 2 more Red Hat advisories
- RHSA-2020:4062 Released 2020-09-29 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel-rt security and bug fix update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time (v. 7) kernel-rt-3.10.0-1160.rt56.1131.el7, kernel-rt-debug-3.10.0-1160.rt56.1131.el7, kernel-rt-debug-devel-3.10.0-1160.rt56.1131.el7 +4
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time for NFV (v. 7) kernel-rt-3.10.0-1160.rt56.1131.el7, kernel-rt-debug-3.10.0-1160.rt56.1131.el7, kernel-rt-debug-devel-3.10.0-1160.rt56.1131.el7 +7
- RHSA-2020:2854 Released 2020-07-07 · 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-4.14.0-115.26.1.el7a, kernel-abi-whitelists-4.14.0-115.26.1.el7a, kernel-alt-4.14.0-115.26.1.el7a +8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server Optional (v. 7) kernel-debug-devel-4.14.0-115.26.1.el7a, kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.14.0-115.26.1.el7a
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:4431 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:4431 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:4060 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:4060 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:4060 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:4060 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:4609 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:4609 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:4060 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:4060 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:4060 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:4060 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:2854 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:2854 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:4062 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time for NFV (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:4062 |
Not affected: 2 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server (v. 7)
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2020-11565
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-prx5-2g93-9xf7
References
Patch 2
Sources
- CVE-2020-11565 · CVE Program
- CVE-2020-11565 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-prx5-2g93-9xf7 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2020-11565 · 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