# CVE-2013-2237: Information disclosure in n/a

> Local attackers can read sensitive kernel heap memory via IPSec key_socket broadcast messages due to uninitialized structure members.

- **Severity:** Low 2.1 (`AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N`)
- **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:** 4 Jul 2013
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2013-2237, GHSA-r4hw-p856-q832

## What is CVE-2013-2237?

CVE-2013-2237 is a low-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 4 Jul 2013. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The key_notify_policy_flush function in net/key/af_key.c in the Linux kernel before 3.9 does not initialize a certain structure member, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information from kernel heap memory by reading a broadcast message from the notify_policy interface of an IPSec key_socket.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2013-2237?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2013-2237?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2013-2237 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2013-2237 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-2013-2237 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2013-2237 is a low-severity vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 4 Jul 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-2013-2237 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-2013-2237/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2237/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2013-2237
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-2237
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2013-2237

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2237/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.