Description
The ptrace functionality (ptrace.c) in Linux kernel 2.6 before 2.6.14.2, using CLONE_THREAD, does not use the thread group ID to check whether it is attaching to itself, which 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 3.1 | kernel-source-2.4.27 | 2.4.27-10sarge2 | DSA-1018-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-source-2.6.8 | 2.6.8-16sarge2 | DSA-1017-1 |
Advisories 2
- DSA-1017-1 kernel-source-2.6.8 - several Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-1018-1 kernel-source-2.4.27 - several Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 17917 third-party-advisory
- http://www.kernel.org/git/?p=linux/kernel/git/gregkh/linux-2.6.14.y.git%3Ba=blobdiff%3Bh=fcfc4568b45f3f190ba320b0d5853836921cb8bc%3Bhp=019e04ec065a55d8f28157d3a1f7ba06cafd347f%3Bhb=082d52c56f642d21b771a13221068d40915a1409%3Bf=kernel/ptrace.c
- SUSE-SA:2005:067 vendor-advisory
- 19369 third-party-advisory
- 18203 third-party-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=174075
- DSA-1018 vendor-advisory
- 19607 third-party-advisory
- SUSE-SA:2005:068 vendor-advisory
- http://www.kernel.org/git/?p=linux/kernel/git/gregkh/linux-2.6.14.y.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=082d52c56f642d21b771a13221068d40915a1409
- 17761 third-party-advisory
- MDKSA-2006:018 vendor-advisory
- MDKSA-2006:072 vendor-advisory
- 17918 third-party-advisory
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.14.2
- DSA-1017 vendor-advisory
- 15642 vdb-entry
- 19374 third-party-advisory
- USN-231-1 vendor-advisory
- 17787 third-party-advisory