What is CVE-2009-3234?

CVE-2009-3234 is a vulnerability in Linux Kernel, classified under Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer. Published 2009-09-17.

Is CVE-2009-3234 known to be exploited?

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

Buffer overflow in Linux Kernel

CVE-2009-3234

Buffer overflow in the perf_copy_attr function in kernel/perf_counter.c in the Linux kernel 2.6.31-rc1 allows local users to cause a denial of service (crash) and execute arbitrary code via a "big size data" to the perf_counter_open system call.

Vulnerability class: Buffer Overflow

Published 2009-09-17 · last modified 2026-06-16.

CVSS v2 metric

CVSS v2 base score 4.9 (Medium). Vector: AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:C. This CVE predates CVSS v3 and has no v3 score from NVD.

EPSS exploit prediction

EPSS: 0.018 (77.6th percentile), scored 2026-10-02.

Low probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, but still tracked. 78th percentile — 77.6% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.

EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.018 · newest: 0.018 · change: 0.000

Affected products

Linux Kernel — versions 2.6.31

Weakness classification (CWE)

CWE-119 — Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer

Public proof-of-concept exploits

alvas/A-Guide-to-Kernel-Exploitation-Attacking-the-Core

References

www.securityfocus.com/bid/36423 (vdb-entry)
article.gmane.org/gmane.linux.kernel/890654 (mailing-list, Exploit)
www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/09/17/13 (mailing-list)
www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/09/16/1 (mailing-list)

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2009-3234?: CVE-2009-3234 is a vulnerability in Linux Kernel, classified under Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer. Published 2009-09-17.
Is CVE-2009-3234 known to be exploited?: 1 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.