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Vulnerability record · CVE-2009-4537 · published 12 January 2010

CVE-2009-4537: Linux kernel improper input validation vulnerability

Linux · Linux Kernel

drivers/net/r8169.c in the r8169 driver in the Linux kernel 2.6.32.3 and earlier does not properly check the size of an Ethernet frame that exceeds the MTU, which allows remote attackers to (1) cause a denial of service (temporary network outage) via a packet with a crafted size, in conjunction with certain packets containing A characters and certain packets containing E characters; or (2) cause a denial of service (system crash) via a packet with a crafted size, in conjunction with certain packets containing '\0' characters, related to the value of the status register and erroneous behavior associated with the RxMaxSize register. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incorrect fix for CVE-2009-1389.

7.8 CVSS 2.0 High EPSS 5.9% · top 7.0% CWE-20 · Improper input validation
7.8CVSS 2.0 base score
5.9%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
2Affected product versions listed by NVD
60References
16 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

drivers/net/r8169.c in the r8169 driver in the Linux kernel 2.6.32.3 and earlier does not properly check the size of an Ethernet frame that exceeds the MTU, which allows remote attackers to (1) cause a denial of service (temporary network outage) via a packet with a crafted size, in conjunction with certain packets containing A characters and certain packets containing E characters; or (2) cause a denial of service (system crash) via a packet with a crafted size, in conjunction with certain packets containing '\0' characters, related to the value of the status register and erroneous behavior associated with the RxMaxSize register. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incorrect fix for CVE-2009-1389.

AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:C

Affected products

2 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
http://blog.c22.cc/2009/12/27/26c3-cat-procsysnetipv4fuckups/ Third Party Advisory
http://events.ccc.de/congress/2009/Fahrplan/events/3596.en.html Third Party Advisory
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2010-February/035159.html Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2010-07/msg00006.html Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
http://marc.info/?l=linux-netdev&m=126202972828626&w=2 Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
http://marc.info/?t=126202986900002&r=1&w=2 Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/38031 Third Party Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/38610 Third Party Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/39742 Third Party Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/39830 Third Party Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/40645 Third Party Advisory
http://securitytracker.com/id?1023419 Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
http://twitter.com/dakami/statuses/7104238406 Third Party Advisory
http://www.debian.org/security/2010/dsa-2053 Third Party Advisory
http://www.novell.com/linux/security/advisories/2010_23_kernel.html Third Party Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/12/28/1 Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/12/29/2 Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/12/31/1 Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2010-0019.html Third Party Advisory
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2010-0020.html Third Party Advisory
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2010-0041.html Third Party Advisory
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2010-0053.html Third Party Advisory
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2010-0111.html Third Party Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/37521 Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2010/1857 Third Party Advisory
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=550907 Issue TrackingThird Party Advisory
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/55647 Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A7443 Third Party Advisory
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A9439 Third Party Advisory
https://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2010-0095.html Third Party Advisory
http://blog.c22.cc/2009/12/27/26c3-cat-procsysnetipv4fuckups/ Third Party Advisory
http://events.ccc.de/congress/2009/Fahrplan/events/3596.en.html Third Party Advisory
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2010-February/035159.html Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2010-07/msg00006.html Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
http://marc.info/?l=linux-netdev&m=126202972828626&w=2 Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
http://marc.info/?t=126202986900002&r=1&w=2 Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/38031 Third Party Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/38610 Third Party Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/39742 Third Party Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/39830 Third Party Advisory

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2009-4537), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-26). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.