Description
Linux kernel 2.4.35 and other versions allows local users to send arbitrary signals to a child process that is running at higher privileges by causing a setuid-root parent process to die, which delivers an attacker-controlled parent process death signal (PR_SET_PDEATHSIG).
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 4.0 | linux-2.6 | 2.6.18.dfsg.1-13etch1 | DSA-1356-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | fai-kernels | 1.9.1sarge8 | DSA-1504-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | hostap-modules-i386 | 1:0.3.7-1sarge3 | DSA-1503-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | i2c | 1:2.9.1-1sarge2 | DSA-1503-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-image-2.4.27-arm +1 | 2.4.27-2sarge6 | DSA-1503-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-image-2.4.27-m68k | 2.4.27-3sarge6 | DSA-1503-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-image-2.4.27-sparc | 2.4.27-9sarge6 | DSA-1503-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-image-2.6.8-hppa | 2.6.8-7sarge1 | DSA-1504-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-image-2.6.8-ia64 | 2.6.8-15sarge1 | DSA-1504-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-image-2.6.8-m68k | 2.6.8-5sarge1 | DSA-1504-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-image-2.6.8-s390 | 2.6.8-6sarge1 | DSA-1504-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-image-2.6.8-sparc | 2.6.8-16sarge1 | DSA-1504-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-image-speakup-i386 | 2.4.27-1.1sarge5 | DSA-1503-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-latest-2.4-alpha | 101sarge3 | DSA-1503-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-latest-2.4-i386 | 101sarge2 | DSA-1503-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-latest-2.4-s390 | 2.4.27-1sarge2 | DSA-1503-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-latest-2.4-sparc | 42sarge3 | DSA-1503-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-patch-2.4.27-mips | 2.4.27-10.sarge4.040815-3 | DSA-1503-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-patch-powerpc-2.6.8 | 2.6.8-13sarge1 | DSA-1504-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-source-2.4.27 +4 | 2.4.27-10sarge6 | DSA-1503-2, DSA-1503-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | kernel-source-2.6.8 +3 | 2.6.8-17sarge1 | DSA-1504-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | mindi-kernel | 2.4.27-2sarge5 | DSA-1503-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | pcmcia-modules-2.4.27-i386 | 3.2.5+2sarge2 | DSA-1503-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | systemimager | 3.2.3-6sarge5 | DSA-1503-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5 | kernel +9 | 2.6.18-8.1.15.el5 | RHSA-2007:0940 |
| RHEL 4 | kernel +10 | 2.6.9-55.0.12.EL | RHSA-2007:0939 |
| RHEL 3 | kernel +8 | 2.4.21-53.EL | RHSA-2007:1049 |
| RHEL 2 | kernel +8 | 2.4.9-e.74 | RHSA-2009:0001, RHSA-2008:0787 |
Advisories 9
- RHSA-2009:0001 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2007:0940 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2007:1049 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2007:0939 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-1503-2 kernel-source-2.4.27 - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-1503-1 kernelimage-2.4.27 - several issues Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-1356-1 linux-2.6 - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-1504-1 kernel-image-2.6.8 - several issues Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- RHSA-2008:0787 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Nov 22, 2025
References
- SUSE-SA:2008:017 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2007:0940 vendor-advisory
- 25387 vdb-entry
- 27747 third-party-advisory
- http://bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2007-3848
- 27212 third-party-advisory
- 27227 third-party-advisory
- 26664 third-party-advisory
- 20070814 COSEINC Linux Advisory #1: Linux Kernel Parent Process DeathSignal Vulnerability mailing-list
- 26643 third-party-advisory
- https://issues.rpath.com/browse/RPL-1648
- RHSA-2007:1049 vendor-advisory
- 28806 third-party-advisory
- SUSE-SA:2007:053 vendor-advisory
- 27913 third-party-advisory
- 27322 third-party-advisory
- 20070816 Re: COSEINC Linux Advisory #1: Linux Kernel Parent Process Death Signal Vulnerability mailing-list
- 26651 third-party-advisory
- RHSA-2007:0939 vendor-advisory
- USN-510-1 vendor-advisory
- DSA-1504 vendor-advisory
- DSA-1356 vendor-advisory
- http://support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2007-474.htm
- USN-509-1 vendor-advisory
- 33280 third-party-advisory
- 20070814 Re: COSEINC Linux Advisory #1: Linux Kernel Parent Process Death Signal Vulnerability mailing-list
- 20070814 COSEINC Linux Advisory #1: Linux Kernel Parent Process Death Signal Vulnerability mailing-list
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.22.4
- MDKSA-2007:196 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SA:2008:006 vendor-advisory
- DSA-1503 vendor-advisory
- 29058 third-party-advisory
- 26500 third-party-advisory
- [openwall-announce] 20070814 Linux 2.4.35-ow2 mailing-list
- RHSA-2008:0787 vendor-advisory
- 26450 third-party-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:10120 vdb-entry signature
- USN-508-1 vendor-advisory
- 20070815 Re: COSEINC Linux Advisory #1: Linux Kernel Parent Process Death Signal Vulnerability mailing-list
- 27436 third-party-advisory
- 29570 third-party-advisory
- MDKSA-2007:195 vendor-advisory