CVE-2013-2596
CVE-2013-2596 is a security flaw in Linux Kernel, the core of Linux, which runs most servers, Android phones and many home routers. Someone who already has a foothold can use Linux Kernel to take full control of the machine. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 15 Sep 2022.[1]
Linux Kernel is business software or equipment. Most families won’t have it, but attackers break into it to get inside companies, and from there to what those companies hold about their customers, patients and staff. Linux has published a fix or advice.
Description
CISA calls it an integer overflow in Linux Kernel. In its words: “Linux kernel fb_mmap function in drivers/video/fbmem.c contains an integer overflow vulnerability that allows for privilege escalation.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “Integer overflow in the fb_mmap function in drivers/video/fbmem.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9, as used in a certain Motorola build of Android 4.1.2 and other products, allows local users to create a read-write memory mapping for the entirety of kernel memory, and consequently gain privileges, via crafted /dev/graphics/fb0 mmap2 system calls, as demonstrated by the Motochopper pwn program.”[2]
The underlying weakness is CWE-189, in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.
It scores 7.8 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it high, scored by NVD using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record doesn’t list version ranges for it; Linux’s advisory has them[3]. CISA names the product as Linux Kernel.
Most families won’t have Linux Kernel; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 15 Sep 2022, 3,442 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 6 Oct 2022 to fix it.[1]
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 3%. That’s in the top 12% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as not automatable: each attack takes some work.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
Linux has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply updates per vendor instructions.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.Linux Kernel is business software or equipment, so most families won’t have it. If you run a business, or work from home on company equipment, ask whoever looks after your IT.
- Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed, or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 6 Oct 2022 to fix it.
- If it can’t be fixed, take it offline.CISA’s advice when there’s no fix is to stop using the product, or take it off the internet, until there is one.
You can’t fix someone else’s server, but you can watch for what follows a break-in like this: a breach notice, a password reset you didn’t ask for, or a scam message that knows things it shouldn’t. HARD watches for those for you and your family.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 7.8.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 3%.[4] |
See also
Other Linux Kernel flaws
- CVE-2026-46300: missing initialization of a variable ·
- CVE-2026-53266: out-of-bounds write ·
- CVE-2025-39964: race condition ·
- CVE-2025-39682: improper check for unusual or exceptional conditions ·
- CVE-2026-53362: unspecified ·
- CVE-2022-0995: out-of-bounds write ·
Similar flaws
- CVE-2011-1823, Android OS: OS privilege escalation ·
- CVE-2012-5054, Adobe Flash Player: integer overflow ·
- CVE-2015-8651, Adobe Flash Player: integer overflow ·
- CVE-2013-2729, Adobe Reader and Acrobat: arbitrary integer overflow ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2022-40139, Trend Micro Apex One and Apex One as a Service: improper validation ·
- CVE-2013-6282, Linux Kernel: improper input validation ·
- CVE-2013-2597, Code Aurora ACDB Audio Driver: stack-based buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2013-2094, Linux Kernel: privilege escalation ·
- CVE-2010-2568, Microsoft Windows: remote code execution ·
Every Linux flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in September 2022
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Linux Kernel Integer Overflow Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 15 Sep 2022.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2013-2596 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 13 Apr 2013.
- ^ Linux. Advisories and fixes: git.kernel.org.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.032, percentile 88.2, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2013-2596”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.