The mem_write function in the Linux kernel before 3.2.2, when ASLR is disabled, does not properly check permissions when writing to /proc//mem, which allows local users to gain privileges by modifying process memory, as demonstrated by Mempodipper.
CVE-2012-0056
- No confirmed exploitation signals yet
A fix is available — apply it.
- CVSS v3
- —
- EG Score
- 0.0(none)
- EPSS
- 95.3%
- KEV
- Not listed
Published
January 27, 2012
Last Modified
April 29, 2026
References (28)
- secalert@redhathttp://blog.zx2c4.com/749
- secalert@redhathttp://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=e268337dfe26dfc7efd422a804dbb27977a3cccc
- secalert@redhathttp://secunia.com/advisories/47708
- secalert@redhathttp://ubuntu.com/usn/usn-1336-1
- secalert@redhathttp://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/470151
- secalert@redhathttp://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.x/ChangeLog-3.2.2
- secalert@redhathttp://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/01/18/1
- secalert@redhathttp://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/01/18/2
- secalert@redhathttp://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/01/19/4
- secalert@redhathttp://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/01/22/4
- secalert@redhathttp://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2012-0052.html
- secalert@redhathttp://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2012-0061.html
- secalert@redhathttp://www.securityfocus.com/bid/51625
- secalert@redhathttps://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=782642
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108http://blog.zx2c4.com/749
Patch Availability(5)
| Vendor / Ecosystem | Fixed in / Patch | Released | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ubuntu | linux-image-3.0.0-1207-omap4 (3.0.0-1207.16) @ oneiric | 2026-05-29 | ubuntu |
| ubuntu | linux-image-3.0.0-15-generic-pae (3.0.0-15.26~lucid1) @ lucid | 2026-05-29 | ubuntu |
| ubuntu | linux-image-3.0.0-15-virtual (3.0.0-15.26) @ oneiric | 2026-05-29 | ubuntu |
| redhat | kernel-rt-0:3.0.9-rt26.46.el6rt | 2012-01-24 | redhat |
| redhat | kernel-0:2.6.32-220.4.1.el6 | 2012-01-23 | redhat |
Patches are aggregated from vendor advisories (Red Hat, Microsoft, Cisco, GitHub) and package ecosystems (OSV, GHSA). Multiple rows for the same upstream release have been deduplicated.
All Vendor Advisories
(5)
Every vendor that published an advisory referencing this CVE — pulled from our cve_vendor_advisories aggregation. Click any row for the vendor's original advisory page.
- Red HatRHSA-2012:0052IMPORTANT2012-01-18
RHSA-2012:0052 — Important
- Red HatRHSA-2012:0061IMPORTANT2012-01-18
RHSA-2012:0061 — Important
- UbuntuUSN-1336-1MEDIUM
Linux kernel vulnerability
- UbuntuUSN-1342-1MEDIUM
Linux kernel (Oneiric backport) vulnerability
- UbuntuUSN-1364-1MEDIUM
Linux kernel (OMAP4) vulnerabilities
Data Freshness Timeline
(refreshed 6× in last 7d / 35× in last 30d)
Each row is a source pipeline that fetched or updated this CVE on that date, with what changed. For example, "NVD update" means NVD published or revised its analysis for this CVE; "MITRE cvelistV5" means we ingested or refreshed it from the CNA feed. Most recent first.
- 2026-07-05 02:26 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-07-04 06:27 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-07-02 14:01 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-07-01 15:02 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-30 23:19 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-30 23:19 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-29 14:02 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-28 14:03 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-28 04:53 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-28 04:53 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-27 03:05 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-27 03:05 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-25 13:46 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-25 13:46 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-24 14:02 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-24 14:02 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-23 21:30 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-22 14:22 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-22 14:22 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-21 14:53 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-21 01:56 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-21 01:56 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-19 19:22 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-19 19:22 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-18 17:49 UTCEPSS rescore
Show 40 moreShow fewer
- 2026-06-18 17:49 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-17 17:49 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-17 17:49 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-16 17:49 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-16 17:49 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-15 17:44 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-12 23:08 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-11 13:56 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-10 22:14 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-10 13:18 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-07 15:22 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-07 15:22 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-06 13:45 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-06 13:45 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-05 22:44 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-05 22:44 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-05 06:08 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-05 06:08 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-04 13:09 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-02 20:10 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-02 20:10 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-01 13:49 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-29 13:41 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-29 05:38 UTCEG score recompute
- 2026-05-29 05:38 UTCVendor advisory
- 2026-05-29 05:38 UTCGHSA enrichment
- 2026-05-27 13:38 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-27 13:38 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-26 07:16 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-26 07:16 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-26 07:16 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-22 21:15 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-22 21:15 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-22 21:15 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-21 22:39 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-20 22:37 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-20 22:37 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-20 22:37 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-18 21:29 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-18 21:29 UTCEPSS rescore
Publicly available exploits
(2 references)Working exploit code is in the public domain (2 Exploit-DB entries). Defenders should treat patch urgency accordingly — public PoCs typically lead to mass-exploitation within 24-72 hours.
- Exploit-DBEDB-18411✓ verifiedFirst seen Jan 23, 2012
Linux Kernel 2.6.39 < 3.2.2 (Gentoo / Ubuntu x86/x64) - 'Mempodipper' Local Privilege Escalation (1)
Open source ↗ - Exploit-DBEDB-35161✓ verifiedFirst seen Jan 12, 2012
Linux Kernel 2.6.39 < 3.2.2 (x86/x64) - 'Mempodipper' Local Privilege Escalation (2)
Open source ↗
Related CVEs(same vendor)
Frequently asked(4)
What is CVE-2012-0056?
When was CVE-2012-0056 disclosed?
Is CVE-2012-0056 actively exploited?
How do I remediate CVE-2012-0056?
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