# CVE-2013-2094: Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation > Local attackers can gain privileges via a crafted perf_event_open system call due to an integer overflow in the Linux kernel. - **Severity:** High 8.4 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`) - **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 15 Sep 2022 (CISA KEV) - **Login needed:** Not needed - **Attackable:** Local or same network only - **Victim action needed:** Not needed - **Fix available:** Yes - **Published:** 14 May 2013 - **Updated:** 22 Oct 2025 - **Also known as:** AZL-34322, AZL-34846, DEBIAN-CVE-2013-2094, GHSA-xpgm-72rm-72p4, RHSA-2013:0830, RHSA-2013:0832, RHSA-2013:0840, RHSA-2013:0841 ## What is CVE-2013-2094? CVE-2013-2094 is a high-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 14 May 2013. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim. ### Official description The perf_swevent_init function in kernel/events/core.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9 uses an incorrect integer data type, which allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted perf_event_open system call. Weakness: CWE-189 ## Which versions are affected by CVE-2013-2094? It affects 1 product. | Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `kernel` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `kernel-debug` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `kernel-debug-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `kernel-debug-devel` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `kernel-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `kernel-debuginfo-common-i686` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `kernel-debuginfo-common-x86_64` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `kernel-devel` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `kernel-doc` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `kernel-firmware` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `kernel-headers` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `perf` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `perf-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `python-perf` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `python-perf-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `kernel` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `kernel-debug` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `kernel-debug-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `kernel-debug-devel` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `kernel-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `kernel-debuginfo-common-x86_64` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `kernel-devel` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `kernel-doc` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `kernel-firmware` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `kernel-headers` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `perf` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `perf-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `python-perf` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `python-perf-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `kernel` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `kernel-bootwrapper` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `kernel-debug` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `kernel-debug-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `kernel-debug-devel` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `kernel-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `kernel-debuginfo-common-i686` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `kernel-debuginfo-common-ppc64` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `kernel-debuginfo-common-s390x` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `kernel-debuginfo-common-x86_64` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | | `kernel-devel` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | All versions | 0:2.6.32-358.6.2.el6 | Products: Linux kernel. ## How do I fix CVE-2013-2094? Apply the vendor's patch. US federal agencies must fix it by 6 Oct 2022. ## Is CVE-2013-2094 being exploited? Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2013-2094 in the wild since at least 15 Sep 2022. Public exploit code: - original cve-2013-2094 exploit and a rewritten version for educational purposes (github_poc): https://github.com/realtalk/cve-2013-2094 - CVE-2013-2094 exploit for android (github_poc): https://github.com/hiikezoe/libperf_event_exploit - CVE-2013-2094 Linux 2.6.32/2.6.37 - 3.8.10 PERF_EVENTS local root x86/x86_64 (github_poc): https://github.com/Pashkela/CVE-2013-2094 - CVE-2013-2094 kernel exploit for i386 (github_poc): https://github.com/timhsutw/cve-2013-2094 - perf_swevent_init (github_poc): https://github.com/vnik5287/CVE-2013-2094 - Linux Kernel 2.6.32 < 3.x (CentOS 5/6) - 'PERF_EVENTS' Local Privilege Escalation (1) (exploitdb) ## 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-2026-53362](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53362/): Linux Kernel Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2026-46300](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-46300/): Linux Kernel Missing Initialization of a Variable (high 7.8, exploited in the wild) ## Fix prompt for AI coding agents ```text Check this codebase for CVE-2013-2094 and fix it if it is affected. What it is: CVE-2013-2094 is a high-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 14 May 2013. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim. Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2013-2094 in the wild since at least 15 Sep 2022. 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-2013-2094/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2094/index.md) ``` ## Sources - CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2013-2094 - NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-2094 - OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2013-2094 --- From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2094/ Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.