Description
A race condition in the way env_start and env_end pointers are initialized in the execve system call and used in fs/proc/base.c on Linux 2.4 allows local users to cause a denial of service (crash).
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 3.0 | kernel-image-2.4.17-ia64 | kernel-image-2.4.17-ia64 | DSA-423 |
| Debian 3.0 | kernel-image-2.4.18-1-alpha | 2.4.18-8 | DSA-358-1 |
| Debian 3.0 | kernel-image-2.4.18-1-i386 | 2.4.18-9 | DSA-358-1 |
| Debian 3.0 | kernel-image-2.4.18-i386bf | 2.4.18-5woody2 | DSA-358-1 |
| Debian 3.0 | kernel-source-2.4.18 | 2.4.18-11 | DSA-358-1 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 1
- Linux Kernel 2.4 - SUID 'execve()' System Call Race Condition Executable File Read EDB-22840 · local · Jun 26, 2003 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 2
- DSA-423 linux-kernel-2.4.17-ia64 - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-358-1 linux-kernel-2.4.18 - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- RHSA-2003:238 vendor-advisory
- DSA-423 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2003:198 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2003:239 vendor-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:309 vdb-entry signature
- DSA-358 vendor-advisory