CVE-2011-1082

Linux Kernel < 2.6.38 - Denial of Service via epoll File Descriptor Chaining

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 1 public exploit for CVE-2011-1082. PoCs published by Nelson Elhage.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit triggers a denial-of-service (DoS) in the Linux Kernel epoll subsystem by creating a large number of nested epoll file descriptors, leading to a kernel hang. The code demonstrates the vulnerability by establishing a circular dependency in epoll event structures.

Description

fs/eventpoll.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.38 places epoll file descriptors within other epoll data structures without properly checking for (1) closed loops or (2) deep chains, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (deadlock or stack memory consumption) via a crafted application that makes epoll_create and epoll_ctl system calls.

Exploits (1)

exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Nelson Elhage · cdoslinux
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/35404

This exploit triggers a denial-of-service (DoS) in the Linux Kernel epoll subsystem by creating a large number of nested epoll file descriptors, leading to a kernel hang. The code demonstrates the vulnerability by establishing a circular dependency in epoll event structures.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Dos
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Linux Kernel (versions affected by CVE-2011-1082)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Local access to the target system
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (6)

Core 6
Core References
Mailing List, Patch, Third Party Advisory mailing-list x_refsource_mlist
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/03/02/2
Mailing List, Patch, Third Party Advisory mailing-list x_refsource_mlist
https://lkml.org/lkml/2011/2/5/220
Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory x_refsource_confirm
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=681575
Mailing List, Patch, Third Party Advisory mailing-list x_refsource_mlist
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/03/02/1

Scores

EPSS 0.0078
EPSS Percentile 50.9%

Details

CWE
CWE-400
Status published
Products (1)
linux/linux_kernel < 2.6.38
Published Apr 04, 2011
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026