# CVE-2009-2695: Privilege escalation in n/a

> Local attackers can exploit NULL pointer dereferences via mmap to gain privileges, particularly affecting systems with specific SELinux configurations.

- **Severity:** High 7.2 (`AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 28 Aug 2009
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-jh8r-4ff3-92j9

## What is CVE-2009-2695?

CVE-2009-2695 is a high-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 28 Aug 2009. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The Linux kernel before 2.6.31-rc7 does not properly prevent mmap operations that target page zero and other low memory addresses, which allows local users to gain privileges by exploiting NULL pointer dereference vulnerabilities, related to (1) the default configuration of the allow_unconfined_mmap_low boolean in SELinux on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 5, (2) an error that causes allow_unconfined_mmap_low to be ignored in the unconfined_t domain, (3) lack of a requirement for the CAP_SYS_RAWIO capability for these mmap operations, and (4) interaction between the mmap_min_addr protection mechanism and certain application programs.

Weakness: CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2009-2695?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2009-2695?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2009-2695 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2009-2695 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

- [CVE-2026-53266](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53266/): Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-6282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6282/): Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-0185](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0185/): Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-2094](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2094/): Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-53362](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53362/): Linux Kernel Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2009-2695 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2009-2695 is a high-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 28 Aug 2009. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2009-2695 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux kernel. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-2695/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-2695/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2009-2695
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2009-2695
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2009-2695

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-2695/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.