Description
The proc filesystem implementation in the Linux kernel 2.6.37 and earlier does not restrict access to the /proc directory tree of a process after this process performs an exec of a setuid program, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information or cause a denial of service via open, lseek, read, and write system calls.
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 6.0 | linux-2.6 | 2.6.32-35squeeze1 | DSA-2303-1 |
| Debian 5.0 | linux-2.6 | 2.6.26-26lenny4 | DSA-2310-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6 | perf +15 | 2.6.32-220.el6 | RHSA-2011:1530 |
| RHEL 5 | kernel +12 | 2.6.18-274.17.1.el5 | RHSA-2012:0007 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6.1 EUS | perf +14 | 2.6.32-131.25.1.el6 | RHSA-2012:0116 |
| Red Hat MRG 2 | kernel-rt +10 | 2.6.33.9-rt31.75.el6rt | RHSA-2011:1253 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | kernel-source | 4.8.13-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10128-1 |
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.
Exploit-DB 1
- Linux Kernel 2.6.32 (Ubuntu 10.04) - '/proc' Handling SUID Privilege Escalation EDB-41770 · local · Jan 17, 2011
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 7
- RHSA-2012:0007 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2011:1253 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2011:1530 Red Hat Security Advisory: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 kernel security, bug fix and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-2303-1 linux-2.6 - several issues Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-2310-1 linux-2.6 - several issues Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10128-1 kernel-debug-4.8.13-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- RHSA-2012:0116 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Nov 22, 2025
References
- kernel-procpid-security-bypass(65693) vdb-entry
- 8107 third-party-advisory
- 43496 third-party-advisory
- [oss-security] 20110224 CVE request: kernel: /proc/$pid/ leaks contents across setuid exec mailing-list
- [linux-kernel] 20110208 Re: [SECURITY] /proc/$pid/ leaks contents across setuid exec mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20110225 Re: CVE request: kernel: /proc/$pid/ leaks contents across setuid exec mailing-list
- [linux-kernel] 20110207 Re: [SECURITY] /proc/$pid/ leaks contents across setuid exec mailing-list
- [linux-kernel] 20110209 Re: [SECURITY] /proc/$pid/ leaks contents across setuid exec mailing-list
- 46567 vdb-entry
- [linux-kernel] 20110207 [SECURITY] /proc/$pid/ leaks contents across setuid exec mailing-list
- [linux-kernel] 20110209 Re: [SECURITY] /proc/$pid/ leaks contents across setuid exec mailing-list
- [linux-kernel] 20110207 Re: [SECURITY] /proc/$pid/ leaks contents across setuid exec mailing-list
- [linux-kernel] 20110208 Re: [SECURITY] /proc/$pid/ leaks contents across setuid exec mailing-list
- 20110122 Proc filesystem and SUID-Binaries mailing-list
- http://www.halfdog.net/Security/2011/SuidBinariesAndProcInterface/