The setup_arg_pages function in fs/exec.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.36, when…
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- — Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · Complete
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-400.
Summary
The setup_arg_pages function in fs/exec.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.36, when CONFIG_STACK_GROWSDOWN is used, does not properly restrict the stack memory consumption of the (1) arguments and (2) environment for a 32-bit application on a 64-bit platform, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (system crash) via a crafted exec system call, a related issue to CVE-2010-2240.
Why it matters now
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 · 5
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 2.6.36 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:9.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.10 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:10.04:*:*:*:-:*:*:* | 10.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:10.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 10.10 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 2.6.36 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:9.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.10 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:10.04:*:*:*:-:*:*:* Versions 10.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:10.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10.10 Vulnerable ·Canonical
Remediation
Red Hat 3 advisories
- RHSA-2011:0836 Released 2011-06-01 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security and bug fix update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) kernel-2.6.32-131.2.1.el6, kernel-bootwrapper-2.6.32-131.2.1.el6, kernel-debug-2.6.32-131.2.1.el6 +8
- RHSA-2011:0004 Released 2011-01-04 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5 server) kernel-2.6.18-194.32.1.el5, kernel-2.6.18-194.32.1.el5.ia64, kernel-PAE-2.6.18-194.32.1.el5 +18
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 5 client) kernel-2.6.18-194.32.1.el5, kernel-PAE-2.6.18-194.32.1.el5, kernel-PAE-devel-2.6.18-194.32.1.el5 +8
- RHSA-2010:0958 Released 2010-12-08 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel-rt security and bug fix update
- MRG Realtime for RHEL 5 Server kernel-rt-2.6.33.7-rt29.47.el5rt, kernel-rt-debug-2.6.33.7-rt29.47.el5rt, kernel-rt-debug-devel-2.6.33.7-rt29.47.el5rt +7
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| MRG Realtime for RHEL 5 Server | Fixed | RHSA-2010:0958 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5 server) | Fixed | RHSA-2011:0004 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 5 client) | Fixed | RHSA-2011:0004 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2011:0836 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2010-3858
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-j2mv-rmhw-vq9m
References
Exploit 1
Patch 3
Advisory 8
Sources
- CVE-2010-3858 · CVE Program
- CVE-2010-3858 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-j2mv-rmhw-vq9m · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2010-3858 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences