Linus Torvalds released a Linux kernel update last week which fixes a flaw in the access control to memory. Shortly afterwards, exploits appeared making it possible to gain root privileges using this error.
http://www.h-online.com/security/news/item/Linux-root-exploit-due-to-memory-access-Update-2-1419834.html
http://www.h-online.com/security/news/item/Linux-root-exploit-due-to-memory-access-Update-2-1419834.html
