CVE-2003-0961

highpriority · track · 40EPSS 0.039 · 90 %ileexploit · functionalEUUS
grimoire priorityP1 · Urgent
Exploitable?
Public exploit
2 exploits · functional
Likely / severe?
3.92% (90th) EPSS
CVSS 7.2 · high
Is it mine?
8 products
Check your exposure
Who says so?
3 sources
enisa_euvd · nvd · redhat_csaf

EPSS · scored 2026-10-27

Integer overflow in the do_brk function for the brk system call in Linux kernel 2.4.22 and earlier allows local users to gain root privileges.

01

remediations

Vendor fix, mitigation, or workaround guidance, as published by each source.

A vendor fix is available.

  • FixedRed Hat Enterprise Linux AS version 3redhat_csaf

    Before applying this update, make sure all previously released errata relevant to your system have been applied. To update all RPMs for your particular architecture, run: rpm -Fvh [filenames] where [filenames] is a list of the RPMs you wish to upgrade. Only those RPMs which are currently installed will be updated. Those RPMs which are not installed but included in the list will not be updated. Note that you can also use wildcards (*.rpm) if your current directory *only* contains the desired RPMs. Please note that this update is also available via Red Hat Network. Many people find this an easier way to apply updates. To use Red Hat Network, launch the Red Hat Update Agent with the following command: up2date This will start an interactive process that will result in the appropriate RPMs being upgraded on your system. If up2date fails to connect to Red Hat Network due to SSL Certificate Errors, you need to install a version of the up2date client with an updated certificate. The latest version of up2date is available from the Red Hat FTP site and may also be downloaded directly from the RHN website: https://rhn.redhat.com/help/latest-up2date.pxt

    https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2003:308
  • FixedRed Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 3redhat_csaf

    Before applying this update, make sure all previously released errata relevant to your system have been applied. To update all RPMs for your particular architecture, run: rpm -Fvh [filenames] where [filenames] is a list of the RPMs you wish to upgrade. Only those RPMs which are currently installed will be updated. Those RPMs which are not installed but included in the list will not be updated. Note that you can also use wildcards (*.rpm) if your current directory *only* contains the desired RPMs. Please note that this update is also available via Red Hat Network. Many people find this an easier way to apply updates. To use Red Hat Network, launch the Red Hat Update Agent with the following command: up2date This will start an interactive process that will result in the appropriate RPMs being upgraded on your system. If up2date fails to connect to Red Hat Network due to SSL Certificate Errors, you need to install a version of the up2date client with an updated certificate. The latest version of up2date is available from the Red Hat FTP site and may also be downloaded directly from the RHN website: https://rhn.redhat.com/help/latest-up2date.pxt

    https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2003:308
  • FixedRed Hat Enterprise Linux AS (Advanced Server) version 2.1 redhat_csaf

    Before applying this update, make sure all previously released errata relevant to your system have been applied. To update all RPMs for your particular architecture, run: rpm -Fvh [filenames] where [filenames] is a list of the RPMs you wish to upgrade. Only those RPMs which are currently installed will be updated. Those RPMs which are not installed but included in the list will not be updated. Note that you can also use wildcards (*.rpm) if your current directory *only* contains the desired RPMs. Please note that this update is also available via Red Hat Network. Many people find this an easier way to apply updates. To use Red Hat Network, launch the Red Hat Update Agent with the following command: up2date This will start an interactive process that will result in the appropriate RPMs being upgraded on your system. If up2date fails to connect to Red Hat Network due to SSL Certificate Errors, you need to install a version of the up2date client with an updated certificate. The latest version of up2date is available from the Red Hat FTP site and may also be downloaded directly from the RHN website: https://rhn.redhat.com/help/latest-up2date.pxt

    https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2003:368
  • FixedRed Hat Linux Advanced Workstation 2.1redhat_csaf

    Before applying this update, make sure all previously released errata relevant to your system have been applied. To update all RPMs for your particular architecture, run: rpm -Fvh [filenames] where [filenames] is a list of the RPMs you wish to upgrade. Only those RPMs which are currently installed will be updated. Those RPMs which are not installed but included in the list will not be updated. Note that you can also use wildcards (*.rpm) if your current directory *only* contains the desired RPMs. Please note that this update is also available via Red Hat Network. Many people find this an easier way to apply updates. To use Red Hat Network, launch the Red Hat Update Agent with the following command: up2date This will start an interactive process that will result in the appropriate RPMs being upgraded on your system. If up2date fails to connect to Red Hat Network due to SSL Certificate Errors, you need to install a version of the up2date client with an updated certificate. The latest version of up2date is available from the Red Hat FTP site and may also be downloaded directly from the RHN website: https://rhn.redhat.com/help/latest-up2date.pxt

    https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2003:368
  • FixedRed Hat Enterprise Linux AS (Advanced Server) version 2.1 redhat_csaf

    Before applying this update, make sure all previously released errata relevant to your system have been applied. To use Red Hat Network to upgrade the kernel, launch the Red Hat Update Agent with the following command: up2date This will start an interactive process that will result in the appropriate RPMs being upgraded on your system. Note that you need to select the kernel explicitly if you are using the default configuration of up2date. To install kernel packages manually, use "rpm -ivh <package>" and modify system settings to boot the kernel you have installed. To do this, edit /boot/grub/grub.conf and change the default entry to "default=0" (or, if you have chosen to use LILO as your boot loader, edit /etc/lilo.conf and run lilo) Do not use "rpm -Uvh" as that will remove your running kernel binaries from your system. You may use "rpm -e" to remove old kernels after determining that the new kernel functions properly on your system.

    https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2003:389
  • FixedRed Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 2.1redhat_csaf

    Before applying this update, make sure all previously released errata relevant to your system have been applied. To use Red Hat Network to upgrade the kernel, launch the Red Hat Update Agent with the following command: up2date This will start an interactive process that will result in the appropriate RPMs being upgraded on your system. Note that you need to select the kernel explicitly if you are using the default configuration of up2date. To install kernel packages manually, use "rpm -ivh <package>" and modify system settings to boot the kernel you have installed. To do this, edit /boot/grub/grub.conf and change the default entry to "default=0" (or, if you have chosen to use LILO as your boot loader, edit /etc/lilo.conf and run lilo) Do not use "rpm -Uvh" as that will remove your running kernel binaries from your system. You may use "rpm -e" to remove old kernels after determining that the new kernel functions properly on your system.

    https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2003:389
  • FixedRed Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 2.1redhat_csaf

    Before applying this update, make sure all previously released errata relevant to your system have been applied. To use Red Hat Network to upgrade the kernel, launch the Red Hat Update Agent with the following command: up2date This will start an interactive process that will result in the appropriate RPMs being upgraded on your system. Note that you need to select the kernel explicitly if you are using the default configuration of up2date. To install kernel packages manually, use "rpm -ivh <package>" and modify system settings to boot the kernel you have installed. To do this, edit /boot/grub/grub.conf and change the default entry to "default=0" (or, if you have chosen to use LILO as your boot loader, edit /etc/lilo.conf and run lilo) Do not use "rpm -Uvh" as that will remove your running kernel binaries from your system. You may use "rpm -e" to remove old kernels after determining that the new kernel functions properly on your system.

    https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2003:389
02

cvss

Technical severity, 0–10. One row per scoring source.

7.2
010

base score 0–10 · higher = more severe · hover a vector to decode

v2.07.2highAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:Cprimary · NVD / NIST USexploitability 3.9 · impact 10
v2.07.2highAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C/E:Hsecondary · CVSS-BT (t0sche)
03

weaknesses

The CWE weakness classes this flaw belongs to.

CWE-190USLLM-inferred
04

exploits (2)

Public proof-of-concept and weaponised exploit code.

05

affected products (8)

Products and version ranges known to be affected.

06

advisories (3)

Vendor and ecosystem advisories describing this.

  • RHBA-2003:308Red Hat Bug Fix Advisory: Updated kernel resolves 32-bit address space issue on AMD642003-12-02csaf · redhat_csafUS

    Updated kernel packages are now available that allow 32-bit compatibility-mode applications to utilize a larger address space on the AMD64 architecture. [Updated 01 Dec 2003] Note: This errata also fixed a bug in the do_brk() function, which has now been found to have security consequences: allowing a local attacker to gain root privileges (CAN-2003-0961). There is no change to the packages associated with this advisory.

  • RHSA-2003:368Red Hat Security Advisory: Updated IA64 kernel packages address security vulnerabilities, bugfixes2003-12-19csaf · redhat_csafUS

    Updated kernel packages that address several security vulnerabilites, fix a number of bugs, and update various drivers are now available.

  • RHSA-2003:389Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security update2003-12-01csaf · redhat_csafUS

    Updated kernel packages are now available that fix a security vulnerability allowing local users to gain root privileges.

07

also known as (2)

Other names and identifiers for this entity.

08

sources

Which sources assert this record, and when.

enisa_euvdnvdredhat_csafNVDCVE.orgMITRE
published 2003-12-15modified 2026-06-16
09

references (50)

External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.

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