CVE-2014-3153: Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Q: How do I fix CVE-2014-3153?

linux kernel: upgrade to 3.2.60, 3.4.92, 3.10.42, 3.12.22, 3.14.6; enterprise linux server aus: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; opensuse: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2014-3153 being exploited?

Yes. CVE-2014-3153 is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list, so treat it as patch-now.

Q: What does CVE-2014-3153 affect?

CVE-2014-3153 affects linux kernel, enterprise linux server aus, opensuse. Severity is high (CVSS 7.8). The futex_requeue function in kernel/futex.c in the Linux kernel through 3.14.5 does not ensure that calls have two different futex addresses, which allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted FUTEX_REQUEUE command that facilitates

Q: How urgent is CVE-2014-3153?

Priority 87/100. High severity; EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited; Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV); Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

Patch now

HIGH 7.8EXPLOITEDWATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2014-3153 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.8) affecting linux kernel, enterprise linux server aus, opensuse, reported as exploited in the wild. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

The futex_requeue function in kernel/futex.c in the Linux kernel through 3.14.5 does not ensure that calls have two different futex addresses, which allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted FUTEX_REQUEUE command that facilitates unsafe waiter modification.

Why this priority

High severity
EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited
Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV)
Public exploit reference
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.8 (High)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	37.2% (top 1%)
CISA exploited list	Yes, fix due 2022-06-15
Published	2014-06-07
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): Chrome · Vendor: linux · opensuse · redhat · suse

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2014-06-07 14:55 UTCPublished CVE record published
2022-05-25Exploited Added to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list
2022-06-15Deadline CISA due date for US federal agencies to patch
2026-06-17 00:07 UTCUpdated Record last modified

linux linux kernel UPGRADE

Affected: < 3.2.60 · >= 3.3 and < 3.4.92 · >= 3.5 and < 3.10.42 · >= 3.11 and < 3.12.22 · >= 3.13 and < 3.14.6

Fixed in: 3.2.60, 3.4.92, 3.10.42, 3.12.22, 3.14.6

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

redhat enterprise linux server aus MITIGATE

Affected: 6.2

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 6.2

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

opensuse opensuse MITIGATE

Affected: 11.4

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 11.4

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

suse linux enterprise desktop MITIGATE

Affected: 11 sp3

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 11

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

suse linux enterprise high availability extension MITIGATE

Affected: 11 sp3

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 11

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

suse linux enterprise real time extension MITIGATE

Affected: 11 sp3

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 11

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Exact fixes by distribution

A distro patch exists: prefer upgrading over downgrading.

Fedora 46 · perl-Net-IDN-Encode · FIXED · 2.600-1.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-84eff0ea64 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-84eff0ea64

Fedora ELN · libXISF · FIXED · 0.2.15-2.eln159 · FEDORA-2026-b9e2d1bda0 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-b9e2d1bda0

Debian 12 · linux · FIXED · 3.14.5-1

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade linux dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' linux)" ge "3.14.5-1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

Debian 13 · linux · FIXED · 3.14.5-1

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade linux dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' linux)" ge "3.14.5-1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

RHEL 6 · kernel · FIXED · kernel-2.6.32-431.20.3.el6

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2014:0771 rpm -q kernel

RHEL 6.2 Advanced Update Support · kernel · FIXED · kernel-2.6.32-220.52.1.el6

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2014:0800 rpm -q kernel

RHEL 6.4 Extended Update Support · kernel · FIXED · kernel-2.6.32-358.46.1.el6

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2014:0900 rpm -q kernel

RHEL 7 · kernel · FIXED · kernel-3.10.0-123.4.2.el7

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2014:0786 rpm -q kernel

RHEL 5 · kernel · NOT AFFECTED

Amazon Linux 1 · see advisory · FIXED · ALAS-2014-392 · source

sudo yum update --advisory=ALAS-2014-392

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

GitHub PoC: timwr/CVE-2014-3153 (124 stars)
GitHub PoC: geekben/towelroot (46 stars)
GitHub PoC: dangtunguyen/TowelRoot (21 stars)
GitHub PoC: c3c/CVE-2014-3153
GitHub PoC: c4mx/Linux-kernel-code-injection_CVE-2014-3153
Exploit-DB: Linux Kernel 3.14.5 (CentOS 7 / RHEL) - 'libfutex' Local Privilege Escalation
Metasploit: Android 'Towelroot' Futex Requeue Kernel Exploit

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · CISA KEV catalog · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2014-3153?

linux kernel: upgrade to 3.2.60, 3.4.92, 3.10.42, 3.12.22, 3.14.6; enterprise linux server aus: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; opensuse: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2014-3153 being exploited?

Yes. CVE-2014-3153 is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list, so treat it as patch-now.

What does CVE-2014-3153 affect?

CVE-2014-3153 affects linux kernel, enterprise linux server aus, opensuse. Severity is high (CVSS 7.8). The futex_requeue function in kernel/futex.c in the Linux kernel through 3.14.5 does not ensure that calls have two different futex addresses, which allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted FUTEX_REQUEUE command that facilitates

How urgent is CVE-2014-3153?

Priority 87/100. High severity; EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited; Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV); Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

Software pages

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References

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