Description
start_kdeinit in KDE 3.5.5 through 3.5.9, when installed setuid root, allows local users to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary code via "user-influenceable input" (probably command-line arguments) that cause start_kdeinit to send SIGUSR1 signals to other processes.
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 5.0 | kdelibs | 4:3.5.10.dfsg.1-0lenny2 | DSA-1867-1 |
| Debian 4.0 | kdelibs | 4:3.5.5a.dfsg.1-8etch2 | DSA-1867-1 |
Advisories 1
- DSA-1867-1 kdelibs - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 30113 third-party-advisory
- GLSA-200804-30 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SR:2008:011 vendor-advisory
- 1019924 vdb-entry
- 29977 third-party-advisory
- USN-608-1 vendor-advisory
- 29951 third-party-advisory
- ADV-2008-1370 vdb-entry
- 28938 vdb-entry
- http://www.kde.org/info/security/advisory-20080426-2.txt
- MDVSA-2008:097 vendor-advisory
- kde-startkdeinit-privilege-escalation(42039) vdb-entry