Out-of-bounds read in Linux kernel
Priority LOW 25CWE-125Published · 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
- Partial Red Hat: 13 fixed, 4 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-125 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
A memory out-of-bounds read flaw was found in the Linux kernel before 5.9-rc2 with the ext3/ext4 file system, in the way it accesses a directory with broken indexing. This flaw allows a local user to crash the system if the directory exists. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to system availability.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.00371 31st percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial kernel (Linux Kernel): 5.9-rc2Red Hat: 4 advisoriesRed Hat: 13 fixed, 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | kernel | before 5.9-rc2 | 5.9-rc2 | Patch available | CNA |
- kernel VendorLinux Affected before 5.9-rc2 Fixed in 5.9-rc2 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 13
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 5.8.9 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.9.0:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.9.0 rc1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| 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:20.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 20.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:a:starwindsoftware:starwind_virtual_san:v8:build12533:*:*:*:vsphere:*:* | v8 build12533 | Vulnerable | Starwindsoftware |
| cpe:2.3:a:starwindsoftware:starwind_virtual_san:v8:build12658:*:*:*:vsphere:*:* | v8 build12658 | Vulnerable | Starwindsoftware |
| cpe:2.3:a:starwindsoftware:starwind_virtual_san:v8:build12859:*:*:*:vsphere:*:* | v8 build12859 | Vulnerable | Starwindsoftware |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 5.8.9 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:5.9.0:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.9.0 rc1 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- 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:20.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 20.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:a:starwindsoftware:starwind_virtual_san:v8:build12533:*:*:*:vsphere:*:* Versions v8 build12533 Vulnerable ·Starwindsoftware
- cpe:2.3:a:starwindsoftware:starwind_virtual_san:v8:build12658:*:*:*:vsphere:*:* Versions v8 build12658 Vulnerable ·Starwindsoftware
- cpe:2.3:a:starwindsoftware:starwind_virtual_san:v8:build12859:*:*:*:vsphere:*:* Versions v8 build12859 Vulnerable ·Starwindsoftware
Show 3 more CPE
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:starwindsoftware:starwind_virtual_san:v8:build13170:*:*:*:vsphere:*:* | v8 build13170 | Vulnerable | Starwindsoftware |
| cpe:2.3:a:starwindsoftware:starwind_virtual_san:v8:build13586:*:*:*:vsphere:*:* | v8 build13586 | Vulnerable | Starwindsoftware |
| cpe:2.3:a:starwindsoftware:starwind_virtual_san:v8:build13861:*:*:*:vsphere:*:* | v8 build13861 | Vulnerable | Starwindsoftware |
- cpe:2.3:a:starwindsoftware:starwind_virtual_san:v8:build13170:*:*:*:vsphere:*:* Versions v8 build13170 Vulnerable ·Starwindsoftware
- cpe:2.3:a:starwindsoftware:starwind_virtual_san:v8:build13586:*:*:*:vsphere:*:* Versions v8 build13586 Vulnerable ·Starwindsoftware
- cpe:2.3:a:starwindsoftware:starwind_virtual_san:v8:build13861:*:*:*:vsphere:*:* Versions v8 build13861 Vulnerable ·Starwindsoftware
Remediation
- Fix · CNA kernel (Linux Kernel) Fixed in 5.9-rc2
Red Hat 4 advisories
- RHSA-2021:1739 Released 2021-05-18 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel-rt security and bug fix update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-305.rt7.72.el8, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-305.rt7.72.el8, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-305.rt7.72.el8 +7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-305.rt7.72.el8, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-305.rt7.72.el8, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-305.rt7.72.el8 +9
- RHSA-2021:1578 Released 2021-05-18 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 8) kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.18.0-305.el8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) bpftool-4.18.0-305.el8, kernel-4.18.0-305.el8, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-305.el8 +19
- RHSA-2020:5437 Released 2020-12-15 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security and bug fix update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) bpftool-3.10.0-1160.11.1.el7, kernel-3.10.0-1160.11.1.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-1160.11.1.el7 +8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-1160.11.1.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-1160.11.1.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) bpftool-3.10.0-1160.11.1.el7, kernel-3.10.0-1160.11.1.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-1160.11.1.el7 +11
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) kernel-debug-devel-3.10.0-1160.11.1.el7, kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-1160.11.1.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) bpftool-3.10.0-1160.11.1.el7, kernel-3.10.0-1160.11.1.el7, kernel-abi-whitelists-3.10.0-1160.11.1.el7 +8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) kernel-tools-libs-devel-3.10.0-1160.11.1.el7
Show 1 more Red Hat advisories
- RHSA-2020:5441 Released 2020-12-15 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel-rt security and bug fix update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time (v. 7) kernel-rt-3.10.0-1160.11.1.rt56.1145.el7, kernel-rt-debug-3.10.0-1160.11.1.rt56.1145.el7, kernel-rt-debug-devel-3.10.0-1160.11.1.rt56.1145.el7 +4
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time for NFV (v. 7) kernel-rt-3.10.0-1160.11.1.rt56.1145.el7, kernel-rt-debug-3.10.0-1160.11.1.rt56.1145.el7, kernel-rt-debug-devel-3.10.0-1160.11.1.rt56.1145.el7 +7
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Advisory ·
Linux Kernel kernel — USN-4576-1
2 records Highest priority Priority LOW 2 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2020-11253 A flaw was found in the Linux kernel before 5.9-rc4.Priority LOW 25
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:1578 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:1578 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:5437 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:5437 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:5437 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:1739 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:1739 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:5437 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:5437 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:5437 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:5437 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:5441 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time for NFV (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2020:5441 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2020-14314
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-4vqp-m886-hqhq
References
Advisory 8
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2020-14314
- [debian-lts-announce] 20200928 [SECURITY] [DLA 2385-1] linux-4.19 security update
- USN-4576-1
- USN-4578-1
- USN-4579-1
- [debian-lts-announce] 20201030 [SECURITY] [DLA 2420-1] linux security update
- [debian-lts-announce] 20201031 [SECURITY] [DLA 2420-2] linux regression update
- https://www.starwindsoftware.com/security/sw-20210325-0003/
More Linux Kernel vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-26358 tls: fix handling of zero-length records on the rx_list KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-38352 netfilter: bridge: make ebt_snat ARP rewrite writable KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2013-05264 The (1) get_user and (2) put_user API functions in the Linux kernel before 3.5.5 on the… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2022-00125 Integer overflow in kernel KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2013-01864 The perf_swevent_init function in kernel/events/core.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2021-05514 Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACE KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.3
Sources
- CVE-2020-14314 · CVE Program
- CVE-2020-14314 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-4vqp-m886-hqhq · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2020-14314 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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