# CVE-2012-6538: Information disclosure in n/a

> Local attackers with CAP_NET_ADMIN can read sensitive kernel heap memory due to improper string copying in the xfrm subsystem.

- **Severity:** Low 1.9 (`AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 14 Mar 2013
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2012-6538, GHSA-q428-g62p-pgvx

## What is CVE-2012-6538?

CVE-2012-6538 is a low-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 14 Mar 2013. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The copy_to_user_auth function in net/xfrm/xfrm_user.c in the Linux kernel before 3.6 uses an incorrect C library function for copying a string, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel heap memory by leveraging the CAP_NET_ADMIN capability.

Weakness: CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2012-6538?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Linux kernel, Redhat Enterprise Linux.

## How do I fix CVE-2012-6538?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2012-6538 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2012-6538 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-2012-6538 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2012-6538 is a low-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 14 Mar 2013. 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-2012-6538 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-2012-6538/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-6538/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2012-6538
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-6538
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2012-6538

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-6538/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.