Time-of-check time-of-use race condition in [UNKNOWN] procps-ng, procps
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · High · None
- Fix status
- Will not fix Red Hat: no fix planned
Attack profile from CVSS 3.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
procps-ng, procps is vulnerable to a process hiding through race condition. Since the kernel's proc_pid_readdir() returns PID entries in ascending numeric order, a process occupying a high PID can use inotify events to determine when the process list is being scanned, and fork/exec to obtain a lower PID, thus avoiding enumeration. An unprivileged attacker can hide a process from procps-ng's utilities by exploiting a race condition in reading /proc/PID entries. This vulnerability affects procps and procps-ng up to version 3.3.15, newer versions might be affected also.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [UNKNOWN] | procps-ng, procps | up to procps-ng 3.3.15 and newer | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- procps-ng, procps Vendor[UNKNOWN] Affected up to procps-ng 3.3.15 and newer Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:procps_project:procps:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 3.3.15 | Vulnerable | Procps Project |
- cpe:2.3:a:procps_project:procps:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 3.3.15 Vulnerable ·Procps Project
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2018-1121
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-2r59-6pxx-3wqv
References
More Procps Project Procps vulnerabilities
- TI-2023-03728 Heap-based buffer overflow in Linux Kernal CVSS 3.1LOW 3.3
Sources
- CVE-2018-1121 · CVE Program
- CVE-2018-1121 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-2r59-6pxx-3wqv · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2018-1121 · 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