What is CVE-2009-1046?

CVE-2009-1046 is a vulnerability in Linux Kernel, classified under CWE-399. Published 2009-03-23.

Is CVE-2009-1046 known to be exploited?

18 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

Vulnerability in Linux Kernel

CVE-2009-1046

The console selection feature in the Linux kernel 2.6.28 before 2.6.28.4, 2.6.25, and possibly earlier versions, when the UTF-8 console is used, allows physically proximate attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) by selecting a small number of 3-byte UTF-8 characters, which triggers an "off-by-two memory error." NOTE: it is not clear whether this issue crosses privilege boundaries.

Published 2009-03-23 · last modified 2026-06-16.

CVSS v2 metric

CVSS v2 base score 4.7 (Medium). Vector: AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:C. This CVE predates CVSS v3 and has no v3 score from NVD.

EPSS exploit prediction

EPSS: 0.008 (54.3th percentile), scored 2026-09-30.

Very low probability of exploitation in the next 30 days; routine patching cadence is appropriate. 54th percentile — 54.3% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.

EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.008 · newest: 0.008 · change: 0.000

Affected products

Linux Kernel — versions 2.6.25, 2.6.28, 2.6.28.1

Weakness classification (CWE)

CWE-399

Public proof-of-concept exploits

References

www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.28.4
www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/02/12/9 (mailing-list)
www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/02/12/10 (mailing-list)
www.securityfocus.com/bid/33672 (Patch, vdb-entry)
www.ubuntu.com/usn/usn-751-1 (vendor-advisory)
lists.openwall.net/linux-kernel/2009/02/02/364 (mailing-list, Patch)
secunia.com/advisories/34981 (third-party-advisory)
www.debian.org/security/2009/dsa-1800 (vendor-advisory)
www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/02/12/11 (mailing-list)
secunia.com/advisories/34917 (third-party-advisory)

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2009-1046?: CVE-2009-1046 is a vulnerability in Linux Kernel, classified under CWE-399. Published 2009-03-23.
Is CVE-2009-1046 known to be exploited?: 18 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.