What is CVE-2012-2123?

CVE-2012-2123 is a High severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 7.2 out of 10, classified as a Permissions, Privileges and Access Control flaw (CWE-264). CVE-2012-2123 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2012-2123?

CVE-2012-2123 has a CVSS score of 7.2 out of 10, rated High severity. The vector string is AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C.

Is there a patch available for CVE-2012-2123?

No patch is currently available for CVE-2012-2123. Monitor the NIST NVD and your Linux distribution's security advisories for updates.

Is CVE-2012-2123 actively exploited?

CVE-2012-2123 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is Permissions, Privileges and Access Control (CWE-264)?

Weaknesses in this category are related to the management of permissions, privileges, and access controls. See MITRE CWE for full details: https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/264.html

CVE-2012-2123

High

The cap_bprm_set_creds function in security/commoncap.c in the Linux kernel before 3.3.3 does not properly handle the use of file system capabilities (aka fcaps) for implementing a privileged executable file, which allows local users to bypass intended personality restrictions via a crafted application, as demonstrated by an attack that uses a parent process to disable ASLR.

Package Linux Kernel

Published 2012-05-17

Last modified 2026-04-29

CVSS version 2.0

Patch available

Awaiting data

CVSS 2.0 score

7.2

out of 10

High

Attack Vector

Local

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

User Interaction

Scope

Confidentiality

Low

Integrity

Availability

Vector string

AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

Weakness type

CWE-264

CVE-2012-2123 is a Permissions, Privileges and Access Control vulnerability

What is Permissions, Privileges and Access Control?

Weaknesses in this category are related to the management of permissions, privileges, and access controls. Learn more on MITRE CWE

References

The following references provide additional information about CVE-2012-2123 including vendor advisories, patch commits, exploit details, and third-party analysis. Links are sourced from the NIST NVD database.

Red Hat
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2012-0670.html

Third Party Advisory VDB Entry
Red Hat
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2012-0743.html

Third Party Advisory VDB Entry
Debian Security
http://www.debian.org/security/2012/dsa-2469

Third Party Advisory
Kernel.org
http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/ChangeLog-3.3.3

Vendor Advisory
Openwall
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/04/20/6

Mailing List Third Party Advisory
Securityfocus
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/53166

Third Party Advisory VDB Entry
Securitytracker
http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1027072

Third Party Advisory VDB Entry
Red Hat
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=806722

Issue Tracking
Exchange
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/75043

VDB Entry
Kernel patch commit
http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=d52fc5dde171f030170a6cb78034d166b13c9445
Patch
Kernel patch commit
https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/d52fc5dde171f030170a6cb78034d166b13c9445
Patch

Details

CVE ID CVE-2012-2123

Severity High

CVSS score 7.2 / 10

CVSS version 2.0

Published 2012-05-17

Modified 2026-04-29

KEV No

Patch Awaiting data

Package linux

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2012-2123?

CVE-2012-2123 is a High severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 7.2 out of 10 , classified as a Permissions, Privileges and Access Control flaw (CWE-264) . CVE-2012-2123 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
What is the CVSS score for CVE-2012-2123?

CVE-2012-2123 has a CVSS score of 7.2 out of 10, rated High severity (CVSS 2.0). The vector string is AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C.
Is there a patch available for CVE-2012-2123?

No patch is currently available for CVE-2012-2123. Monitor the NIST NVD and your Linux distribution's security advisories for updates.
Is CVE-2012-2123 actively exploited?

No — CVE-2012-2123 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.
What is Permissions, Privileges and Access Control (CWE-264)?

Weaknesses in this category are related to the management of permissions, privileges, and access controls. View CWE-264 on MITRE CWE →