Description
fs/exec.c in Linux 2.6, when one thread is tracing another thread that shares the same memory map, might allow local users to cause a denial of service (deadlock) by forcing a core dump when the traced thread is in the TASK_TRACED state.
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 3.1 | kernel-image-2.6.8-hppa | 2.6.8-6sarge1 | DSA-922-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-image-2.6.8-ia64 | 2.6.8-14sarge1 | DSA-922-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-image-2.6.8-m68k | 2.6.8-4sarge1 | DSA-922-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-image-2.6.8-s390 | 2.6.8-5sarge1 | DSA-922-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-image-2.6.8-sparc | 2.6.8-15sarge1 | DSA-922-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-patch-powerpc-2.6.8 | 2.6.8-12sarge1 | DSA-922-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-source-2.6.8 +3 | 2.6.8-16sarge1 | DSA-922-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 4 | kernel +6 | 2.6.9-11.EL | RHSA-2005:420 |
| RHEL 3 | kernel +8 | 2.4.21-47.EL | RHSA-2006:0437 |
Advisories 3
- RHSA-2006:0437 Red Hat Security Advisory: Updated kernel packages for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 Update 8 Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2005:420 Red Hat Security Advisory: Updated kernel packages available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 Update 1 Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-922-1 kernel-source-2.6.8 - several Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- http://linux.bkbits.net:8080/linux-2.6/diffs/fs/exec.c%401.155?nav=index.html%7Csrc/%7Csrc/fs%7Chist/fs/exec.c
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:11473 vdb-entry signature
- RHSA-2006:0437 vendor-advisory
- 18056 third-party-advisory
- 21136 third-party-advisory
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/people/akpm/patches/2.6/2.6.11-rc1/2.6.11-rc1-mm1/broken-out/fix-coredump_wait-deadlock-with-ptracer-tracee-on-shared-mm.patch
- 21983 third-party-advisory
- DSA-922 vendor-advisory
- 15049 vdb-entry
- http://support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2006-180.htm
- 17141 third-party-advisory
- RHSA-2005:420 vendor-advisory
- USN-199-1 vendor-advisory
- MDKSA-2006:072 vendor-advisory