Description
The ec_dev_ioctl function in net/econet/af_econet.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.36.2 does not require the CAP_NET_ADMIN capability, which allows local users to bypass intended access restrictions and configure econet addresses via an SIOCSIFADDR ioctl call.
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 | linux-2.6 | 2.6.26-26lenny1 | DSA-2126-1 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 2
- Linux Kernel < 2.6.36.2 (Ubuntu 10.04) - 'Half-Nelson.c' Econet Privilege Escalation EDB-17787 · local · Sep 5, 2011 · verified
- Linux Kernel 2.6.37 (RedHat / Ubuntu 10.04) - 'Full-Nelson.c' Local Privilege Escalation EDB-15704 · local · Dec 7, 2010 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 1
- DSA-2126-1 linux-2.6 - several issues Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=16c41745c7b92a243d0874f534c1655196c64b74
- 43056 third-party-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=644156
- 20101207 Linux kernel exploit mailing-list
- SUSE-SA:2011:007 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20101129 kernel: Multiple vulnerabilities in AF_ECONET mailing-list
- ADV-2011-0298 vdb-entry
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.36.2
- MDVSA-2011:051 vendor-advisory
- MDVSA-2010:257 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SA:2011:005 vendor-advisory
- ADV-2011-0375 vdb-entry
- USN-1023-1 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SA:2011:008 vendor-advisory
- 43291 third-party-advisory
- ADV-2011-0213 vdb-entry
- DSA-2126 vendor-advisory