CVE-2013-0160

Publication date 17 February 2013

Last updated 4 July 2026

Ubuntu priority

Low

Why this priority?

Description

The Linux kernel through 3.7.9 allows local users to obtain sensitive information about keystroke timing by using the inotify API on the /dev/ptmx device.

From the Ubuntu Security Team

An information leak was discovered in the Linux kernel when inotify is used to monitor the /dev/ptmx device. A local user could exploit this flaw to discover keystroke timing and potentially discover sensitive information like password length.

Read the notes from the security team

Status

Package Ubuntu Release Status
linux 17.04 zesty
Not affected
16.10 yakkety
Not affected
16.04 LTS xenial
Not affected
15.10 wily
Not affected
15.04 vivid
Not affected
14.10 utopic
Not affected
14.04 LTS trusty
Not affected
13.10 saucy
Not affected
13.04 raring Ignored end of life, was pending
12.10 quantal
Fixed 3.5.0-34.55
12.04 LTS precise
Fixed 3.2.0-48.74
11.10 oneiric Ignored end of life
10.04 LTS lucid
Fixed 2.6.32-57.119
8.04 LTS hardy Ignored end of life
linux-armadaxp 17.04 zesty Not in release
16.10 yakkety Not in release
16.04 LTS xenial Not in release
15.10 wily Not in release
15.04 vivid Not in release
14.10 utopic Not in release
14.04 LTS trusty Not in release
13.10 saucy Not in release
13.04 raring Not in release
12.10 quantal
Fixed 3.5.0-1616.24
12.04 LTS precise
Fixed 3.2.0-1621.32
11.10 oneiric Not in release
10.04 LTS lucid Not in release
8.04 LTS hardy Not in release
linux-aws 17.04 zesty Not in release
16.10 yakkety Not in release
16.04 LTS xenial
Not affected
14.04 LTS trusty
Not affected
12.04 LTS precise Not in release
linux-ec2 17.04 zesty Not in release
16.10 yakkety Not in release
16.04 LTS xenial Not in release
15.10 wily Not in release
15.04 vivid Not in release
14.10 utopic Not in release
14.04 LTS trusty Not in release
13.10 saucy Not in release
13.04 raring Not in release
12.10 quantal Not in release
12.04 LTS precise Not in release
11.10 oneiric Not in release
10.04 LTS lucid
Fixed 2.6.32-362.75
8.04 LTS hardy Not in release
linux-flo 17.04 zesty Not in release
16.10 yakkety Ignored end of life
16.04 LTS xenial Not in release
15.10 wily Ignored end of life
15.04 vivid Ignored end of life
14.10 utopic Ignored end of life
14.04 LTS trusty Not in release
13.10 saucy Not in release
12.10 quantal Not in release
12.04 LTS precise Not in release
10.04 LTS lucid Not in release
linux-fsl-imx51 17.04 zesty Not in release
16.10 yakkety Not in release
16.04 LTS xenial Not in release
15.10 wily Not in release
15.04 vivid Not in release
14.10 utopic Not in release
14.04 LTS trusty Not in release
13.10 saucy Not in release
13.04 raring Not in release
12.10 quantal Not in release
12.04 LTS precise Not in release
11.10 oneiric Not in release
10.04 LTS lucid Ignored end of life
8.04 LTS hardy Not in release
linux-gke 17.04 zesty Not in release
16.10 yakkety Not in release
16.04 LTS xenial
Not affected
14.04 LTS trusty Not in release
12.04 LTS precise Not in release
linux-goldfish 17.04 zesty
Not affected
16.10 yakkety
Not affected
16.04 LTS xenial Not in release
15.10 wily
Not affected
15.04 vivid
Not affected
14.10 utopic
Not affected
14.04 LTS trusty Not in release
13.10 saucy Ignored
12.10 quantal Not in release
12.04 LTS precise Not in release
10.04 LTS lucid Not in release
linux-grouper 17.04 zesty Not in release
16.10 yakkety Not in release
16.04 LTS xenial Not in release
15.10 wily Not in release
15.04 vivid Not in release
14.10 utopic Ignored end of life
14.04 LTS trusty Not in release
13.10 saucy Ignored
12.10 quantal Not in release
12.04 LTS precise Not in release
10.04 LTS lucid Not in release
linux-hwe 17.04 zesty Not in release
16.10 yakkety Not in release
16.04 LTS xenial
Not affected
14.04 LTS trusty Not in release
12.04 LTS precise Not in release
linux-hwe-edge 17.04 zesty Not in release
16.10 yakkety Not in release
16.04 LTS xenial
Not affected
14.04 LTS trusty Not in release
12.04 LTS precise Not in release
linux-linaro-omap 17.04 zesty Not in release
16.10 yakkety Not in release
16.04 LTS xenial Not in release
15.10 wily Not in release
15.04 vivid Not in release
14.10 utopic Not in release
14.04 LTS trusty Not in release
13.10 saucy Not in release
13.04 raring Not in release
12.10 quantal Ignored end of life
12.04 LTS precise Ignored end of life
11.10 oneiric Ignored end of life
10.04 LTS lucid Not in release
8.04 LTS hardy Not in release
linux-linaro-shared 17.04 zesty Not in release
16.10 yakkety Not in release
16.04 LTS xenial Not in release
15.10 wily Not in release
15.04 vivid Not in release
14.10 utopic Not in release
14.04 LTS trusty Not in release
13.10 saucy Not in release
13.04 raring Not in release
12.10 quantal Ignored end of life
12.04 LTS precise Ignored end of life
11.10 oneiric Ignored end of life
10.04 LTS lucid Not in release
8.04 LTS hardy Not in release
linux-linaro-vexpress 17.04 zesty Not in release
16.10 yakkety Not in release
16.04 LTS xenial Not in release
15.10 wily Not in release
15.04 vivid Not in release
14.10 utopic Not in release
14.04 LTS trusty Not in release
13.10 saucy Not in release
13.04 raring Not in release
12.10 quantal Ignored end of life
12.04 LTS precise Ignored end of life
11.10 oneiric Ignored end of life
10.04 LTS lucid Not in release
8.04 LTS hardy Not in release
linux-lts-backport-maverick 17.04 zesty Not in release
16.10 yakkety Not in release
16.04 LTS xenial Not in release
15.10 wily Not in release
15.04 vivid Not in release
14.10 utopic Not in release
14.04 LTS trusty Not in release
13.10 saucy Not in release
13.04 raring Not in release
12.10 quantal Not in release
12.04 LTS precise Not in release
11.10 oneiric Not in release
10.04 LTS lucid Ignored end of life
8.04 LTS hardy Not in release
linux-lts-backport-oneiric 17.04 zesty Not in release
16.10 yakkety Not in release
16.04 LTS xenial Not in release
15.10 wily Not in release
15.04 vivid Not in release
14.10 utopic Not in release
14.04 LTS trusty Not in release
13.10 saucy Not in release
13.04 raring Not in release
12.10 quantal Not in release
12.04 LTS precise Not in release
11.10 oneiric Not in release
10.04 LTS lucid Ignored end of life
8.04 LTS hardy Not in release
linux-lts-quantal 17.04 zesty Not in release
16.10 yakkety Not in release
16.04 LTS xenial Not in release
15.10 wily Not in release
15.04 vivid Not in release
14.10 utopic Not in release
14.04 LTS trusty Not in release
13.10 saucy Not in release
13.04 raring Not in release
12.10 quantal Not in release
12.04 LTS precise
Fixed 3.5.0-34.55~precise1
11.10 oneiric Not in release
10.04 LTS lucid Not in release
8.04 LTS hardy Not in release
linux-lts-raring 17.04 zesty Not in release
16.10 yakkety Not in release
16.04 LTS xenial Not in release
15.10 wily Not in release
15.04 vivid Not in release
14.10 utopic Not in release
14.04 LTS trusty Not in release
13.10 saucy Not in release
13.04 raring Not in release
12.10 quantal Not in release
12.04 LTS precise
Fixed 3.8.0-25.37~precise1
11.10 oneiric Not in release
10.04 LTS lucid Not in release
8.04 LTS hardy Not in release
linux-lts-saucy 17.04 zesty Not in release
16.10 yakkety Not in release
16.04 LTS xenial Not in release
15.10 wily Not in release
15.04 vivid Not in release
14.10 utopic Not in release
14.04 LTS trusty Not in release
13.10 saucy Not in release
13.04 raring Not in release
12.10 quantal Not in release
12.04 LTS precise
Not affected
10.04 LTS lucid Not in release
linux-lts-trusty 17.04 zesty Not in release
16.10 yakkety Not in release
16.04 LTS xenial Not in release
15.10 wily Not in release
15.04 vivid Not in release
14.10 utopic Not in release
14.04 LTS trusty Not in release
13.10 saucy Not in release
12.04 LTS precise
Not affected
10.04 LTS lucid Not in release
linux-lts-utopic 17.04 zesty Not in release
16.10 yakkety Not in release
16.04 LTS xenial Not in release
15.10 wily Not in release
15.04 vivid Not in release
14.10 utopic Not in release
14.04 LTS trusty Not in release
12.04 LTS precise Not in release
10.04 LTS lucid Not in release
linux-lts-vivid 17.04 zesty Not in release
16.10 yakkety Not in release
16.04 LTS xenial Not in release
15.10 wily Not in release
15.04 vivid Not in release
14.10 utopic Not in release
14.04 LTS trusty Not in release
12.04 LTS precise Not in release
10.04 LTS lucid Not in release
linux-lts-wily 17.04 zesty Not in release
16.10 yakkety Not in release
16.04 LTS xenial Not in release
15.10 wily Not in release
15.04 vivid Not in release
14.04 LTS trusty Not in release
12.04 LTS precise Not in release
linux-lts-xenial 17.04 zesty Not in release
16.10 yakkety Not in release
16.04 LTS xenial Not in release
15.10 wily Not in release
15.04 vivid Not in release
14.04 LTS trusty
Not affected
12.04 LTS precise Not in release
linux-maguro 17.04 zesty Not in release
16.10 yakkety Not in release
16.04 LTS xenial Not in release
15.10 wily Not in release
15.04 vivid Not in release
14.10 utopic Not in release
14.04 LTS trusty Not in release
13.10 saucy Ignored
12.10 quantal Not in release
12.04 LTS precise Not in release
10.04 LTS lucid Not in release
linux-mako 17.04 zesty Not in release
16.10 yakkety Ignored end of life
16.04 LTS xenial Not in release
15.10 wily Ignored end of life
15.04 vivid Ignored end of life
14.10 utopic Ignored end of life
14.04 LTS trusty Not in release
13.10 saucy Ignored
12.10 quantal Not in release
12.04 LTS precise Not in release
10.04 LTS lucid Not in release
linux-manta 17.04 zesty Not in release
16.10 yakkety Not in release
16.04 LTS xenial Not in release
15.10 wily Ignored end of life
15.04 vivid Ignored end of life
14.10 utopic Ignored end of life
14.04 LTS trusty Not in release
13.10 saucy Ignored
12.10 quantal Not in release
12.04 LTS precise Not in release
10.04 LTS lucid Not in release
linux-mvl-dove 17.04 zesty Not in release
16.10 yakkety Not in release
16.04 LTS xenial Not in release
15.10 wily Not in release
15.04 vivid Not in release
14.10 utopic Not in release
14.04 LTS trusty Not in release
13.10 saucy Not in release
13.04 raring Not in release
12.10 quantal Not in release
12.04 LTS precise Not in release
11.10 oneiric Not in release
10.04 LTS lucid Ignored end of life
8.04 LTS hardy Not in release
linux-qcm-msm 17.04 zesty Not in release
16.10 yakkety Not in release
16.04 LTS xenial Not in release
15.10 wily Not in release
15.04 vivid Not in release
14.10 utopic Not in release
14.04 LTS trusty Not in release
13.10 saucy Not in release
13.04 raring Not in release
12.10 quantal Ignored end of life
12.04 LTS precise Ignored end of life
11.10 oneiric Ignored end of life
10.04 LTS lucid Ignored end of life
8.04 LTS hardy Not in release
linux-raspi2 17.04 zesty
Not affected
16.10 yakkety
Not affected
16.04 LTS xenial
Not affected
15.10 wily
Not affected
15.04 vivid Not in release
14.04 LTS trusty Not in release
12.04 LTS precise Not in release
linux-snapdragon 17.04 zesty
Not affected
16.10 yakkety
Not affected
16.04 LTS xenial
Not affected
15.10 wily Not in release
14.04 LTS trusty Not in release
12.04 LTS precise Not in release
linux-ti-omap4 17.04 zesty Not in release
16.10 yakkety Not in release
16.04 LTS xenial Not in release
15.10 wily Not in release
15.04 vivid Not in release
14.10 utopic Not in release
14.04 LTS trusty Not in release
13.10 saucy
Not affected
13.04 raring
Fixed 3.5.0-226.39
12.10 quantal
Fixed 3.5.0-226.39
12.04 LTS precise
Fixed 3.2.0-1433.44
11.10 oneiric Ignored end of life
10.04 LTS lucid Not in release
8.04 LTS hardy Not in release

Notes

apw

the spender sidechannel patch above may not be generally applicable but I include it for completeness.

henrix

commit b0de59b5733d18b0d1974a060860a8b5c1b36a2e is not sufficient to fix the CVE because an application doesn't have to read atime/mtime (as is the case for the PoC). The 2 additional commits fix a regression and mark the shared ptmx node as un-notifiable (which will cause additional problems to backport them to Lucid, as it doesn't have this feature)

Patch details

For informational purposes only. We recommend not to cherry-pick updates. How can I get the fixes?

Package Patch details
linux

References

Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

    • USN-1878-1
    • Linux kernel vulnerabilities
    • 14 June 2013
    • USN-2129-1
    • Linux kernel (EC2) vulnerabilities
    • 6 March 2014
    • USN-1883-1
    • Linux kernel (OMAP4) vulnerabilities
    • 14 June 2013
    • USN-2128-1
    • Linux kernel vulnerabilities
    • 5 March 2014
    • USN-1880-1
    • Linux kernel (Quantal HWE) vulnerabilities
    • 14 June 2013
    • USN-1916-1
    • Linux kernel (Raring HWE) vulnerability
    • 29 July 2013
    • USN-1879-1
    • Linux kernel (OMAP4) vulnerabilities
    • 14 June 2013
    • USN-1881-1
    • Linux kernel vulnerabilities
    • 14 June 2013
    • USN-1882-1
    • Linux kernel (OMAP4) vulnerabilities
    • 14 June 2013

Other references

Access our resources on patching vulnerabilities