---
title: "CVE-2012-6539\n    | Ubuntu"
description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the
  desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.
url: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2012-6539?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2012-6539

Publication date 7 March 2013

Last updated 4 July 2026

---

Ubuntu priority

**Low**

[Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority )

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## Description

The dev\_ifconf function in net/socket.c in the Linux kernel before 3.6 does
not initialize a certain structure, which allows local users to obtain
sensitive information from kernel stack memory via a crafted application.

### From the Ubuntu Security Team

Mathias Krause discovered information leak in the Linux kernel's compat
ioctl interface. A local user could exploit the flaw to examine parts of
kernel stack memory

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| linux | 17.04 zesty | Not affected |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not affected |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |
| 15.10 wily | Not affected |
| 15.04 vivid | Not affected |
| 14.10 utopic | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not affected |
| 13.10 saucy | Not affected |
| 13.04 raring | Not affected |
| 12.10 quantal | Not affected |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Fixed 3.2.0-32.51 |
| 11.10 oneiric | Fixed 3.0.0-27.44 |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Fixed 2.6.32-46.107 |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Ignored end of life |
| linux-armadaxp | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.10 utopic | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Not in release |
| 13.04 raring | Not in release |
| 12.10 quantal | Not affected |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Fixed 3.2.0-1609.14 |
| 11.10 oneiric | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release |
| linux-aws | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not affected |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| linux-ec2 | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.10 utopic | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Not in release |
| 13.04 raring | Not in release |
| 12.10 quantal | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| 11.10 oneiric | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Fixed 2.6.32-351.63 |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release |
| linux-flo | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Ignored end of life |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Ignored end of life |
| 15.04 vivid | Ignored end of life |
| 14.10 utopic | Ignored end of life |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Not in release |
| 12.10 quantal | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| linux-fsl-imx51 | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.10 utopic | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Not in release |
| 13.04 raring | Not in release |
| 12.10 quantal | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| 11.10 oneiric | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Ignored end of life |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release |
| linux-gke | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| linux-goldfish | 17.04 zesty | Not affected |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not affected |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not affected |
| 15.04 vivid | Not affected |
| 14.10 utopic | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Ignored |
| 12.10 quantal | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| linux-grouper | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.10 utopic | Ignored end of life |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Ignored |
| 12.10 quantal | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| linux-hwe | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| linux-hwe-edge | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| linux-linaro-omap | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.10 utopic | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Not in release |
| 13.04 raring | Not in release |
| 12.10 quantal | Ignored end of life |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Ignored end of life |
| 11.10 oneiric | Ignored end of life |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release |
| linux-linaro-shared | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.10 utopic | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Not in release |
| 13.04 raring | Not in release |
| 12.10 quantal | Ignored end of life |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Ignored end of life |
| 11.10 oneiric | Ignored end of life |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release |
| linux-linaro-vexpress | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.10 utopic | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Not in release |
| 13.04 raring | Not in release |
| 12.10 quantal | Ignored end of life |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Ignored end of life |
| 11.10 oneiric | Ignored end of life |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release |
| linux-lts-backport-maverick | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.10 utopic | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Not in release |
| 13.04 raring | Not in release |
| 12.10 quantal | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| 11.10 oneiric | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Ignored end of life |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release |
| linux-lts-backport-oneiric | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.10 utopic | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Not in release |
| 13.04 raring | Not in release |
| 12.10 quantal | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| 11.10 oneiric | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Fixed 3.0.0-27.44~lucid1 |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release |
| linux-lts-quantal | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.10 utopic | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Not in release |
| 13.04 raring | Not in release |
| 12.10 quantal | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not affected |
| 11.10 oneiric | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release |
| linux-lts-raring | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.10 utopic | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Not in release |
| 13.04 raring | Not in release |
| 12.10 quantal | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not affected |
| 11.10 oneiric | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release |
| linux-lts-trusty | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.10 utopic | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not affected |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| linux-lts-utopic | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.10 utopic | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| linux-lts-vivid | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.10 utopic | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| linux-lts-wily | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| linux-lts-xenial | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not affected |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| linux-maguro | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.10 utopic | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Ignored |
| 12.10 quantal | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| linux-mako | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Ignored end of life |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Ignored end of life |
| 15.04 vivid | Ignored end of life |
| 14.10 utopic | Ignored end of life |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Ignored |
| 12.10 quantal | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| linux-manta | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not affected |
| 15.04 vivid | Not affected |
| 14.10 utopic | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Ignored |
| 12.10 quantal | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| linux-mvl-dove | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.10 utopic | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Not in release |
| 13.04 raring | Not in release |
| 12.10 quantal | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| 11.10 oneiric | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Ignored end of life |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release |
| linux-qcm-msm | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.10 utopic | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Not in release |
| 13.04 raring | Not in release |
| 12.10 quantal | Ignored end of life |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Ignored end of life |
| 11.10 oneiric | Ignored end of life |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Ignored end of life |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release |
| linux-raspi2 | 17.04 zesty | Not affected |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not affected |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |
| 15.10 wily | Not affected |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| linux-snapdragon | 17.04 zesty | Not affected |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not affected |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release |
| linux-ti-omap4 | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.10 utopic | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 13.10 saucy | Not affected |
| 13.04 raring | Not affected |
| 12.10 quantal | Not affected |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Fixed 3.2.0-1420.27 |
| 11.10 oneiric | Fixed 3.0.0-1217.30 |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)
* [Patch details](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2012-6539?format=md#patch-details)

### Patch details

For informational purposes only. We recommend not to cherry-pick updates. [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)

| Package | Patch details |
| --- | --- |
| linux | * Introduced by   [1da177e](https://git.kernel.org/linus/1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2),   fixed by   [43da5f2](https://git.kernel.org/linus/43da5f2e0d0c69ded3d51907d9552310a6b545e8) |

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2012-6539)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-6539)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2012-6539)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2012-6539)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-1648-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-1648-1)
+ Linux kernel vulnerabilities
+ 30 November 2012

+ [USN-1599-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-1599-1)
+ Linux kernel (OMAP4) vulnerability
+ 9 October 2012

+ [USN-1649-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-1649-1)
+ Linux kernel (OMAP4) vulnerabilities
+ 30 November 2012

+ [USN-1610-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-1610-1)
+ Linux kernel vulnerability
+ 12 October 2012

+ [USN-1798-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-1798-1)
+ Linux kernel (EC2) vulnerabilities
+ 9 April 2013

+ [USN-1792-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-1792-1)
+ Linux kernel vulnerabilities
+ 8 April 2013

+ [USN-1652-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-1652-1)
+ Linux kernel (Oneiric backport) vulnerabilities
+ 30 November 2012

### Other references

* <http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2013/03/07>
* <http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2013/03/07/2>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2012-6539>
