The wait_for_unix_gc function in net/unix/garbage.c in the Linux kernel before…
Priority LOW 24CWE-400Published · Updated
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 wait_for_unix_gc function in net/unix/garbage.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.37-rc3-next-20101125 does not properly select times for garbage collection of inflight sockets, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (system hang) via crafted use of the socketpair and sendmsg system calls for SOCK_SEQPACKET sockets.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.00888 59th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 6 exploit referencesTagged by NVD and the CNA
Fix Fixed Red Hat: 4 advisories
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 2.6.37 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.37:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.6.37 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.37:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.6.37 rc1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.37:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.6.37 rc2 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:13:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 13 | Vulnerable | Fedoraproject |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 2.6.37 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.37:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.6.37 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.37:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.6.37 rc1 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.37:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.6.37 rc2 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:13:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 13 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
Remediation
Red Hat 4 advisories
- RHSA-2011:0330 Released 2011-03-10 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel-rt security and bug fix update
- MRG Realtime for RHEL 5 Server kernel-rt-2.6.33.7-rt29.55.el5rt, kernel-rt-debug-2.6.33.7-rt29.55.el5rt, kernel-rt-debug-devel-2.6.33.7-rt29.55.el5rt +7
- RHSA-2011:0303 Released 2011-03-01 · Red Hat rating Moderatekernel security and bug fix update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5.6.z server) kernel-2.6.18-238.5.1.el5, kernel-2.6.18-238.5.1.el5.ia64, kernel-PAE-2.6.18-238.5.1.el5 +18
- RHSA-2011:0162 Released 2011-01-18 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security and bug fix update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS version 4 kernel-2.6.9-89.35.1.EL, kernel-2.6.9-89.35.1.EL.ia64, kernel-2.6.9-89.35.1.EL.ppc64iseries +14
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop version 4 kernel-2.6.9-89.35.1.EL, kernel-devel-2.6.9-89.35.1.EL, kernel-doc-2.6.9-89.35.1.EL +8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 4 kernel-2.6.9-89.35.1.EL, kernel-2.6.9-89.35.1.EL.ia64, kernel-devel-2.6.9-89.35.1.EL +12
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 4 kernel-2.6.9-89.35.1.EL, kernel-2.6.9-89.35.1.EL.ia64, kernel-devel-2.6.9-89.35.1.EL +12
Show 1 more Red Hat advisories
- RHSA-2011:0007 Released 2011-01-11 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security and bug fix update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) kernel-2.6.32-71.14.1.el6, kernel-debug-2.6.32-71.14.1.el6, kernel-debug-devel-2.6.32-71.14.1.el6 +5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6) kernel-2.6.32-71.14.1.el6, kernel-debug-2.6.32-71.14.1.el6, kernel-debug-devel-2.6.32-71.14.1.el6 +5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) kernel-2.6.32-71.14.1.el6, kernel-bootwrapper-2.6.32-71.14.1.el6, kernel-debug-2.6.32-71.14.1.el6 +8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) kernel-2.6.32-71.14.1.el6, kernel-debug-2.6.32-71.14.1.el6, kernel-debug-devel-2.6.32-71.14.1.el6 +5
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-2011:0330 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5.6.z server) | Fixed | RHSA-2011:0303 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS version 4 | Fixed | RHSA-2011:0162 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2011:0007 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop version 4 | Fixed | RHSA-2011:0162 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 4 | Fixed | RHSA-2011:0162 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2011:0007 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2011:0007 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 4 | Fixed | RHSA-2011:0162 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2011:0007 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2010-4249
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-g6g8-jgp3-m382
References
Exploit 6
- [oss-security] 20101124 Re: CVE request: kernel: unix socket local dos
- [oss-security] 20101124 CVE request: kernel: unix socket local dos
- [linux-kernel] 20101123 Unix socket local DOS (OOM)
- [linux-kernel] 20101125 Simple kernel attack using socketpair. easy, 100% reproductiblle, works under guest. no way to protect :(
- [netdev] 20101124 [PATCH] af_unix: limit unix_tot_inflight
- 15622
Patch 2
Advisory 6
Sources
- CVE-2010-4249 · CVE Program
- CVE-2010-4249 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-g6g8-jgp3-m382 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2010-4249 · 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