TI-2009-03931 Aliases CVE-2009-4146 GHSA-q9qx-32qq-p7r3

The _rtld function in the Run-Time Link-Editor (rtld) in libexec/rtld-elf/rtld.c in…

LOW 38CWE-264Published 2009-12-02 · Updated 2024-08-07

Key facts

Attack vector: Local
Privileges required: None
User interaction: — Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
Attack complexity: Low
Impact type: Security bypass
Confidentiality · integrity · availability: Complete · Complete · Complete
Fix status: No fix listed

Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-264.

Summary

The _rtld function in the Run-Time Link-Editor (rtld) in libexec/rtld-elf/rtld.c in FreeBSD 7.1, 7.2, and 8.0 does not clear the LD_PRELOAD environment variable, which allows local users to gain privileges by executing a setuid or setguid program with a modified LD_PRELOAD variable containing an untrusted search path that points to a Trojan horse library, a different vector than CVE-2009-4147.

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.03903 90th percentileScored 2026-11-07

Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD

Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet

SSVC decision points

Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.

Affected products

Vendor	Product	Affected versions	Fixed in	Status	Source
—	—	all versions	—	No fix listed	CNA

— Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 3

CPE	Versions	Role	Vendor
cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:7.1:::::::*	7.1	Vulnerable	FreeBSD
cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:7.2:::::::*	7.2	Vulnerable	FreeBSD
cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:8.0:::::::*	8.0	Vulnerable	FreeBSD

cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.1 Vulnerable ·FreeBSD
cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.2 Vulnerable ·FreeBSD
cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·FreeBSD

Remediation

No fixed version listed by the sources yet.

Timeline

2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2009-4146
2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-q9qx-32qq-p7r3
2026-10-08 EPSS moved to the 90th–95th percentile

References

Exploit 1

http://people.freebsd.org/~cperciva/rtld.patch

Other 1

http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/152997/FreeBSD-rtld-execl-Privilege-Escalation.html

TI-2011-04182 Buffer overflow in libtelnet/encrypt.c in telnetd in FreeBSD 7.3 through 9.0, MIT… CVSS 2.0HIGH 10.0
TI-2007-03684 Integer overflow in print-bgp.c in the BGP dissector in tcpdump 3.9.6 and earlier allows… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
TI-2002-00376 Integer overflow in xdr_array function in RPC servers for operating systems that use… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
TI-2024-05929 Openssh: regresshion - race condition in ssh allows rce/dos CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.1
TI-2003-00437 Off-by-one error in the fb_realpath() function, as derived from the realpath function in… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
TI-2003-00642 The prescan function in Sendmail 8.12.9 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code… CVSS 2.0HIGH 10.0

See all 576 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences