Description
The auto-reap of child processes in Linux kernel 2.6 before 2.6.15 includes processes with ptrace attached, which leads to a dangling ptrace reference and allows local users to cause a denial of service (crash) and 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 3.1 | kernel-source-2.6.8 | 2.6.8-16sarge2 | DSA-1017-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 4 | kernel +6 | 2.6.9-22.0.2.EL | RHSA-2006:0101 |
Advisories 2
- RHSA-2006:0101 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-1017-1 kernel-source-2.6.8 - several Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 17917 third-party-advisory
- SUSE-SA:2005:067 vendor-advisory
- http://www.kernel.org/git/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=7ed0175a462c4c30f6df6fac1cccac058f997739
- 18203 third-party-advisory
- RHSA-2006:0101 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SA:2005:068 vendor-advisory
- 20060706 Re: [ MDKSA-2006:116 ] - Updated kernel packages fixes multiple vulnerabilities mailing-list
- FLSA:157459-4 vendor-advisory
- 15625 vdb-entry
- 18510 third-party-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:9080 vdb-entry signature
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=174078
- TSLSA-2005-0070 vendor-advisory
- MDKSA-2006:018 vendor-advisory
- 17918 third-party-advisory
- DSA-1017 vendor-advisory
- 19374 third-party-advisory
- USN-231-1 vendor-advisory
- 17787 third-party-advisory
- 17786 third-party-advisory
- ADV-2005-2649 vdb-entry