The do_exit function in kernel/exit.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.36.2 does not…
Priority LOW 33CWE-269Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- — Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- Privilege escalation
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Complete · Complete · Complete
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-269.
Summary
The do_exit function in kernel/exit.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.36.2 does not properly handle a KERNEL_DS get_fs value, which allows local users to bypass intended access_ok restrictions, overwrite arbitrary kernel memory locations, and gain privileges by leveraging a (1) BUG, (2) NULL pointer dereference, or (3) page fault, as demonstrated by vectors involving the clear_child_tid feature and the splice system call.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.02655 85th percentileScored 2026-11-07
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 · 11
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 2.6.36.2 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:13:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 13 | Vulnerable | Fedoraproject |
| cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:opensuse:11.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11.2 | Vulnerable | openSUSE |
| cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:opensuse:11.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11.3 | Vulnerable | openSUSE |
| cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_desktop:10:sp3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 10 sp3 | Vulnerable | SUSE |
| cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_desktop:11:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11 sp1 | Vulnerable | SUSE |
| cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_real_time_extension:11:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11 sp1 | Vulnerable | SUSE |
| cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_server:9:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9 | Vulnerable | SUSE |
| cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_server:10:sp3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 10 sp3 | Vulnerable | SUSE |
| cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_server:11:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11 sp1 | Vulnerable | SUSE |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 2.6.36.2 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:13:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 13 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
- cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:opensuse:11.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.2 Vulnerable ·openSUSE
- cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:opensuse:11.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.3 Vulnerable ·openSUSE
- cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_desktop:10:sp3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10 sp3 Vulnerable ·SUSE
- cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_desktop:11:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11 sp1 Vulnerable ·SUSE
- cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_real_time_extension:11:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11 sp1 Vulnerable ·SUSE
- cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_server:9:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9 Vulnerable ·SUSE
- cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_server:10:sp3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10 sp3 Vulnerable ·SUSE
- cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_server:11:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11 sp1 Vulnerable ·SUSE
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat Enterprise MRG 1 | Affected | No fix yet |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2010-4258
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-vj6j-hh8w-8qxh
References
Patch 2
Advisory 27
- [oss-security] 20101202 CVE request: kernel: failure to revert address limit override in OOPS error path
- SUSE-SA:2011:004
- [oss-security] 20101202 kernel: Dangerous interaction between clear_child_tid, set_fs(), and kernel oopses
- SUSE-SA:2011:002
- http://blog.nelhage.com/2010/12/cve-2010-4258-from-dos-to-privesc/
- [oss-security] 20101209 Re: kernel: Dangerous interaction between clear_child_tid, set_fs(), and kernel oopses
- FEDORA-2010-18983
- SUSE-SA:2011:001
- ADV-2011-0124
- SUSE-SA:2011:007
- ADV-2010-3321
- [oss-security] 20101208 Re: kernel: Dangerous interaction between clear_child_tid, set_fs(), and kernel oopses
- ADV-2011-0298
- [oss-security] 20101209 Re: kernel: Dangerous interaction between clear_child_tid, set_fs(), and kernel oopses
- SUSE-SA:2011:005
- http://code.google.com/p/chromium-os/issues/detail?id=10234
- ADV-2011-0375
- http://googlechromereleases.blogspot.com/2011/01/chrome-os-beta-channel-update.html
- ADV-2011-0012
- SUSE-SA:2011:008
- [oss-security] 20101202 Re: kernel: Dangerous interaction between clear_child_tid, set_fs(), and kernel oopses
- MDVSA-2011:029
- [oss-security] 20101202 Re: CVE request: kernel: failure to revert address limit override in OOPS error path
- [oss-security] 20101208 Re: kernel: Dangerous interaction between clear_child_tid, set_fs(), and kernel oopses
- ADV-2011-0213
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=659567
- [oss-security] 20101208 Re: kernel: Dangerous interaction between clear_child_tid, set_fs(), and kernel oopses
Sources
- CVE-2010-4258 · CVE Program
- CVE-2010-4258 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-vj6j-hh8w-8qxh · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2010-4258 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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