Description
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.
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-2.4.16-lart +2 | 2.4.16-20040204 | DSA-439 |
| Debian 3.0 | kernel-image-2.4.17-hppa | 32.3 | DSA-470 |
| Debian 3.0 | kernel-image-2.4.17-ia64 | kernel-image-2.4.17-ia64 | DSA-423 |
| Debian 3.0 | kernel-image-2.4.17-s390 | 2.4.17-2.woody.3 | DSA-442 |
| Debian 3.0 | kernel-image-2.4.18-1-alpha | 2.4.18-11 | DSA-417, DSA-403 |
| Debian 3.0 | kernel-image-2.4.18-1-i386 | 2.4.18-12 | DSA-403 |
| Debian 3.0 | kernel-image-2.4.18-hppa | 62.1 | DSA-475 |
| Debian 3.0 | kernel-patch-2.4.16-arm | 20040204 | DSA-439 |
| Debian 3.0 | kernel-patch-2.4.17-mips | 2.4.17-0.020226.2.woody4 | DSA-433 |
| Debian 3.0 | kernel-patch-2.4.17-s390 | 0.0.20020816-0.woody.2 | DSA-442 |
| Debian 3.0 | kernel-patch-2.4.18-powerpc | 2.4.18-1woody3 | DSA-417 |
| Debian 3.0 | kernel-patch-2.4.19-mips | 2.4.19-4.woody1 | DSA-450 |
| Debian 3.0 | kernel-source-2.4.17 +1 | 2.4.17-4 | DSA-440 |
| Debian 3.0 | kernel-source-2.4.18 | 2.4.18-14 | DSA-403 |
| Debian 3.0 | kernel-source-2.4.19 | 2.4.19-0.020911.1.woody3 | DSA-450 |
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 2
- Linux Kernel 2.4.22 - 'do_brk()' Local Privilege Escalation (2) EDB-131 · local · Dec 5, 2003 · verified
- Linux Kernel 2.4.22 - 'do_brk()' Local Privilege Escalation (1) EDB-129 · local · Dec 2, 2003 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 10
- DSA-470 linux-kernel-2.4.17-hppa - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-439 linux-kernel-2.4.16-arm - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-423 linux-kernel-2.4.17-ia64 - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-450 linux-kernel-2.4.19-mips - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-442 linux-kernel-2.4.17-s390 - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-475 linux-kernel-2.4.18-hppa - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-433 kernel-patch-2.4.17-mips - integer overflow Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-440 linux-kernel-2.4.17-powerpc-apus - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-417 linux-kernel-2.4.18-powerpc+alpha - missing boundary check Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-403 kernel-image-2.4.18-1-alpha, kernel-image-2.4.18-1-i386, kernel-source-2.4.18 - local root exploit Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 20031204 Hot fix for do_brk bug mailing-list
- 10330 third-party-advisory
- DSA-433 vendor-advisory
- DSA-423 vendor-advisory
- VU#301156 third-party-advisory
- SuSE-SA:2003:049 vendor-advisory
- DSA-450 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2003:389 vendor-advisory
- DSA-440 vendor-advisory
- MDKSA-2003:110 vendor-advisory
- 20040112 SmoothWall Project Security Advisory SWP-2004:001 mailing-list
- CLA-2003:796 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2003:368 vendor-advisory
- 10328 third-party-advisory
- 10329 third-party-advisory
- DSA-439 vendor-advisory
- DSA-475 vendor-advisory
- 10338 third-party-advisory
- 10333 third-party-advisory
- 20031204 [iSEC] Linux kernel do_brk() vulnerability details mailing-list
- DSA-417 vendor-advisory
- DSA-403 vendor-advisory
- http://isec.pl/papers/linux_kernel_do_brk.pdf
- DSA-442 vendor-advisory
- DSA-470 vendor-advisory