Error setting kernel variables

Derek Broughton news at pointerstop.ca
Thu May 22 21:12:07 UTC 2008


Bruno Costacurta wrote:

> On Tuesday 20 May 2008 20:04:53 Derek Broughton wrote:
>> Bruno Costacurta wrote:
>> > I have the following (non-blocking) error during boot :
>> >
>> > Setting kernel variables...
>> > error: "vm.mmap_min_addr" is an unknown key
>>
>> In the Hardy upgrade, /etc/sysctl.conf got this mod:
>>
>>  # protect bottom 64k of memory from mmap to prevent NULL-dereference
>>  # attacks against potential future kernel security vulnerabilities.
>>  # (Added in kernel 2.6.23.)
>>  vm.mmap_min_addr = 65536
>>
>> I expect you're actually running a kernel prior to 2.6.23 (so am I, and I
>> probably also get that message, though it's a few days since I've booted
>> and I have never noticed it).
> 
> Hello,
> indeed my kernel is 2.6.22-14.
> Thanks for clarification.

I suppose that I should also have mentioned that (a) the message you're
getting is just a warning and not a problem and (b) as the coment says,
it's protection against a possible _future_ vulnerability, and not one that
really exists.
-- 
derek





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