CVE-2006-5331
The altivec_unavailable_exception function in arch/powerpc/kernel/traps.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.19 on 64-bit systems mishandles the case where CONFIG_ALTIVEC is defined and the CPU actually supports Altivec, but the Altivec support was not…
Does this matter?
Lower severity and a low EPSS score (0.43%). Track it; it rarely justifies an emergency change on its own.
Description
The altivec_unavailable_exception function in arch/powerpc/kernel/traps.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.19 on 64-bit systems mishandles the case where CONFIG_ALTIVEC is defined and the CPU actually supports Altivec, but the Altivec support was not detected by the kernel, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (panic) by triggering execution of an Altivec instruction.
- CVSS 3.0
- 5.5 MEDIUMCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
- EPSS
- 0.43% probability · 37th percentile
- Public exploits
- None in Exploit-DB
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-19
- Affected
- linux/linux kernel
- Source
- cve@mitre.org
EPSS 0.4% since 26 October 2026; no change recorded yet. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
References
- http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=6c4841c2b6c32a134f9f36e5e08857138cc12b10Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory
- http://www.linuxgrill.com/anonymous/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.19Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory
- https://bugzilla.suse.com/show_bug.cgi?id=213229Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/6c4841c2b6c32a134f9f36e5e08857138cc12b10Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory
- http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=6c4841c2b6c32a134f9f36e5e08857138cc12b10Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory
- http://www.linuxgrill.com/anonymous/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.19Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory
- https://bugzilla.suse.com/show_bug.cgi?id=213229Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/6c4841c2b6c32a134f9f36e5e08857138cc12b10Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.