Linux Kernel 2.6.23 kill_something_info access control

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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5.7$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as problematic has been found in Linux Kernel 2.6.23. This impacts the function kill_something_info. Executing a manipulation can lead to access control. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2009-1338. There is no available exploit. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel 2.6.23 (Operating System) and classified as problematic. This vulnerability affects the function kill_something_info. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a access control vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-264. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

The kill_something_info function in kernel/signal.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.28 does not consider PID namespaces when processing signals directed to PID -1, which allows local users to bypass the intended namespace isolation, and send arbitrary signals to all processes in all namespaces, via a kill command.

The bug was discovered 04/20/2009. The weakness was presented 04/22/2009 by Daniel Hokka Zakrisson as Bug 496031 as not defined bug report (Bugzilla). The advisory is shared for download at bugzilla.redhat.com. This vulnerability was named CVE-2009-1338 since 04/17/2009. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack needs to be approached locally. No form of authentication is required for a successful exploitation. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1068.

The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 561 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $25k-$100k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 38668 (Debian DSA-1787-1 : linux-2.6.24 - denial of service/privilege escalation/information leak), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Debian Local Security Checks and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 116378 (Linux Kernel "kill_something_info()" Local Denial of Service Vulnerability).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published 2 weeks after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (50386), Tenable (38668), SecurityFocus (BID 34558†), OSVDB (56430†) and Secunia (SA34981†). See VDB-45624, VDB-45355, VDB-47924 and VDB-47913 for similar entries. 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: 🔍
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CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.9
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.7

VulDB Base Score: 5.9
VulDB Temp Score: 5.7
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
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Exploitinginfo

Class: Access control
CWE: CWE-264
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: 38668
Nessus Name: Debian DSA-1787-1 : linux-2.6.24 - denial of service/privilege escalation/information leak
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 63939
OpenVAS Name: Debian Security Advisory DSA 1787-1 (linux-2.6.24)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
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Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
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Timelineinfo

10/09/2007 🔍
07/17/2008 +282 days 🔍
07/17/2008 +0 days 🔍
04/17/2009 +274 days 🔍
04/20/2009 +3 days 🔍
04/22/2009 +2 days 🔍
04/22/2009 +0 days 🔍
05/02/2009 +10 days 🔍
05/04/2009 +2 days 🔍
05/04/2009 +0 days 🔍
05/12/2009 +8 days 🔍
03/17/2015 +2135 days 🔍
04/18/2025 +3685 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: Bug 496031
Researcher: Daniel Hokka Zakrisson
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2009-1338 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2009-1338
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-47848

OVAL: 🔍

X-Force: 50386
SecurityFocus: 34558 - Linux Kernel 'kill_something_info()' Local Denial of Service Vulnerability
Secunia: 34981 - Debian update for linux-2.6.24, Less Critical
OSVDB: 56430 - CVE-2009-1338 - Linux - Kernel - Security Bypass Issue
Vulnerability Center: 21990 - Linux Kernel < 2.6.28 PID Namespaces Local DoS Vulnerability, Medium

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 03/17/2015 23:38
Updated: 04/18/2025 21:17
Changes: 03/17/2015 23:38 (83), 09/03/2019 11:45 (5), 04/18/2025 21:17 (20)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

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