Linux Kernel up to 2.4.19 Register fninit information disclosure

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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3.8$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as problematic has been discovered in Linux Kernel. Affected by this vulnerability is the function fninit of the component Register Handler. The manipulation results in information disclosure. This vulnerability is reported as CVE-2002-1571. No exploit exists. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, was found in Linux Kernel (Operating System). Affected is the function fninit of the component Register Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a information disclosure vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-200. The product exposes sensitive information to an actor that is not explicitly authorized to have access to that information. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality. CVE summarizes:

The linux 2.4 kernel before 2.4.19 assumes that the fninit instruction clears all registers, which could lead to an information leak on processors that do not clear all relevant SSE registers.

The bug was discovered 04/17/2002. The weakness was disclosed 12/31/2002 (Website). The advisory is shared for download at cs.helsinki.fi. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2002-1571 since 11/26/2003. The exploitability is told to be easy. The attack needs to be approached locally. The exploitation doesn't require any form of authentication. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1592.

The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 103 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $5k-$25k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 12306 (RHEL 2.1 : kernel (RHSA-2002:128)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Red Hat Local Security Checks and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 115005 (Red Hat Kernel Information Leak).

Upgrading to version 2.4 eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published before and not just after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (25306), Tenable (12306), OSVDB (23306†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-16897†). The entries VDB-19274 and VDB-19273 are pretty similar. VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 3.8

VulDB Base Score: 4.0
VulDB Temp Score: 3.8
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Information disclosure
CWE: CWE-200 / CWE-284 / CWE-266
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 12306
Nessus Name: RHEL 2.1 : kernel (RHSA-2002:128)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍
Nessus Port: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Upgrade: Kernel 2.4

Timelineinfo

04/17/2002 🔍
04/17/2002 +0 days 🔍
07/29/2002 +103 days 🔍
12/31/2002 +155 days 🔍
12/31/2002 +0 days 🔍
11/26/2003 +330 days 🔍
07/06/2004 +223 days 🔍
11/22/2007 +1234 days 🔍
07/31/2014 +2443 days 🔍
09/04/2025 +4052 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: cs.helsinki.fi
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2002-1571 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2002-1571
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-19272
X-Force: 25306
OSVDB: 23306 - CVE-2002-1571 - Linux - Kernel - Information Disclosure Issue
Vulnerability Center: 16897 - Linux 2.4 Kernel Sensitive Information Leak Because fninit Does Not Clearing Registers, Medium

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 07/31/2014 22:02
Updated: 09/04/2025 01:40
Changes: 07/31/2014 22:02 (68), 07/31/2019 11:01 (4), 09/04/2025 01:40 (20)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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