CVE-2005-0839: Linux kernel 2.6 before 2.6.11 does not restrict access to the N_MOUSE line discipline for a TTY, which all...

Security readout for executives and security teams

This is an old Linux kernel local privilege issue. On kernels before 2.6.11, a local user could abuse a terminal mouse line discipline to inject mouse or keyboard input into another user's session, potentially gaining their privileges. The provided sources do not show remote exploitation or current active exploitation. Exposure is most likely on obsolete Linux systems running kernel 2.6 before 2.6.11 or vendor kernels without the relevant backport. Modern supported distributions are unlikely to be affected, but legacy appliances, unmanaged servers, and archived images should be checked. Treat this as a legacy-system risk, not an internet-scale emergency. Prioritize confirmation on old Linux servers, appliances, and recovery images where local users or shared administrative access exist. Mitigation focus: Upgrade affected Linux kernels using vendor-supported packages or a fixed kernel lineage.; Review Red Hat, Fedora, or other vendor advisories for backported fixes.; Restrict local shell access on legacy systems until patch status is confirmed..

Prepared

Jun 29, 2026, 23:12 UTC (UTC+00:00)

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.