---
title: "CVE-2013-1772\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-2013-1772?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2013-1772

Publication date 28 February 2013

Last updated 4 July 2026

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

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

Toggle side navigation

## Description

The log\_prefix function in kernel/printk.c in the Linux kernel 3.x before
3.4.33 does not properly remove a prefix string from a syslog header, which
allows local users to cause a denial of service (buffer overflow and system
crash) by leveraging /dev/kmsg write access and triggering a
call\_console\_drivers function call.

### From the Ubuntu Security Team

A buffer overflow was discovered in the Linux kernel's /dev/kmesg device. A
local user could exploit this flaw to cause a denial of service (system
crash).

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2013-1772?format=md#notes)

## 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 3.2.0-39.62 |
| 11.10 oneiric | Ignored end of life |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not affected |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not affected |
| 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 3.2.0-1615.23 |
| 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 | Not affected |
| 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 | Ignored end of life |
| 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-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 | Ignored end of life |
| 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 | 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-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 3.2.0-1427.36 |
| 11.10 oneiric | Ignored end of life |
| 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-2013-1772?format=md#patch-details)

## Notes

---

### [mdeslaur](https://launchpad.net/~mdeslaur)

/dev/kmsg is root-writable only

### 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   [162a7e7](https://git.kernel.org/linus/162a7e7500f9664636e649ba59defe541b7c2c60),   fixed by   [7ff9554](https://git.kernel.org/linus/7ff9554bb578ba02166071d2d487b7fc7d860d62) |

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2013-1772)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-1772)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2013-1772)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2013-1772)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-1767-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-1767-1)
+ Linux kernel vulnerabilities
+ 18 March 2013

+ [USN-1781-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-1781-1)
+ Linux kernel (OMAP4) vulnerabilities
+ 26 March 2013

### Other references

* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2013-1772>
