Linux KernelOperating system · Linux
CVE-2006-0457
Official description Straight from the sourceThe vendor's or NVD's own wording, published unedited. Authoritative, but often terse — it says what broke, rarely what to do.
NVD · uneditedRace condition in the (1) add_key, (2) request_key, and (3) keyctl functions in Linux kernel 2.6.x allows local users to cause a denial of service (crash) or read sensitive kernel memory by modifying the length of a string argument between the time that the kernel calculates the length and when it copies the data into kernel memory.
Technical summary Written by usOur analysis, written from the advisory, the CVSS vector and the affected-version data. It adds context the advisory leaves out, and never invents facts that are not in the source.
dbcve analysis · high confidenceRace condition in Linux kernel 2.6.x key management functions (add_key, request_key, keyctl) where string argument length can be modified between length calculation and data copy into kernel memory, allowing local users to cause DoS (crash) or read sensitive kernel memory.
Verify against the referenced sources before acting — the references below are authoritative for this CVE, this summary is not.
Affected products & versions What the vendor confirmedThe version ranges the vendor confirmed as vulnerable. If your version sits inside a range here, treat yourself as exposed until you have upgraded.
NVD · CPE data
Linux KernelOperating system
= 2.6.0= 2.6.1= 2.6.3= 2.6.4= 2.6.5= 2.6.6= 2.6.7= 2.6.8= 2.6.8.1= 2.6.8.1.5= 2.6.9= 2.6.10CVSS breakdown How the score is builtThe industry scoring standard. It rates how the flaw is reached, what it takes to exploit, and what an attacker gains — the score is derived from those, not the other way round.
From the vector- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- High
- Authentication
- None
- Confidentiality
- Complete
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- Complete
AV:N/AC:H/Au:N/C:C/I:N/A:C
Am I affected? How to checkSteps we derive from the advisory and the affected-version data, so you can decide whether this CVE reaches your setup. They are a guide, not a scan — your own configuration is the authority.
dbcve checksWork through these to decide whether this CVE applies to you.
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Identify the running kernel versionRun `uname -r` or `cat /proc/version` to obtain the exact kernel version stringAffected if The version matches 2.6.0, 2.6.1, 2.6.3, 2.6.4, 2.6.5, 2.6.6, 2.6.7, 2.6.8, 2.6.8.1, 2.6.8.1.5, 2.6.9, or 2.6.10
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Verify the key management subsystem is accessibleCheck if the keyctl utility exists by running `which keyctl` or attempting to execute `keyctl -h`Affected if The keyctl command is present and functional, indicating the key management functions are enabled
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Check for processes using key system callsRun `ausearch -k key | head -20` if auditd is installed, or examine /proc/keys to see active keys on the systemAffected if There are any keys listed in /proc/keys or audit events related to add_key, request_key, or keyctl system calls
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Confirm syscall availabilityVerify the key management syscalls exist by checking /proc/sys/fs/pipe-user-pages-soft or reviewing syscall tables; run `strace -c keyctl 2>&1 | head` on a test keyctl call if strace is availableAffected if The add_key, request_key, or keyctl syscalls execute without error, meaning the vulnerable code path is reachable
The system is affected if it runs any of the listed kernel versions and local users can invoke the key management system calls (keyctl, add_key, request_key), as the race condition exists in the kernel code handling these functions.
Generated from the published advisory. Verify against your own configuration.
Remediation Closing itWhat it takes to close this. Where a vendor fix exists we point at it; where none exists we say so plainly, and can build one. Effort estimates are scoped from the advisory, not from your codebase.
From vendor dataApply the upstream kernel patch or upgrade to a kernel version that includes the fix for this race condition. This is a kernel-level fix requiring kernel source update and system reboot.
Fix this in Linux Kernel
Scoped from the published advisory
- Consultation4.0 h
- Implementation8.0 h
- Testing6.0 h
- Review / QA4.0 h
An estimate, not a bill — we confirm scope with you before any work starts. Need it this week? Rush from $6,176.
Scan for this in your stack
Free · runs locallyCheck whether your project pulls in CVE-2006-0457 — or any other known-vulnerable package — straight from your lock files. Free and open source; it runs locally and uploads nothing.
References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.
Primary sourcesPractitioner notes
ContributedPeer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2006-0457 in production — separate from our analysis above.
The advisory tells you what broke. It rarely tells you what actually worked. If you’ve dealt with this one, that detail is what the next engineer is searching for.
- The version that genuinely resolved it — not the one the vendor claimed
- A config change or rule that shut the vector down
- A gotcha in the upgrade path that cost you an afternoon
No notes yet
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- Verified mitigations, workarounds, and config changes
- Version or environment caveats, and links to real fixes
- No weaponised exploit code, or anything meant to cause harm
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