Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
exec: Force single empty string when argv is empty
Quoting[1] Ariadne Conill:
"In several other operating systems, it is a hard requirement that the
second argument to execve(2) be the name of a program, thus prohibiting
a scenario where argc < 1. POSIX 2017 also recommends this behaviour,
but it is not an explicit requirement[2]:
The argument arg0 should point to a filename string that is
associated with the process being started by one of the exec
functions.
...
Interestingly, Michael Kerrisk opened an issue about this in 2008[3],
but there was no consensus to support fixing this issue then.
Hopefully now that CVE-2021-4034 shows practical exploitative use[4]
of this bug in a shellcode, we can reconsider.
This issue is being tracked in the KSPP issue tracker[5]."
While the initial code searches[6][7] turned up what appeared to be
mostly corner case tests, trying to that just reject argv == NULL
(or an immediately terminated pointer list) quickly started tripping[8]
existing userspace programs.
The next best approach is forcing a single empty string into argv and
adjusting argc to match. The number of programs depending on argc == 0
seems a smaller set than those calling execve with a NULL argv.
Account for the additional stack space in bprm_stack_limits(). Inject an
empty string when argc == 0 (and set argc = 1). Warn about the case so
userspace has some notice about the change:
process './argc0' launched './argc0' with NULL argv: empty string added
Additionally WARN() and reject NULL argv usage for kernel threads.
[1] https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20220127000724.15106-1-ariadne@dereferenced.org/
[2] https://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9699919799/functions/exec.html
[3] https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=8408
[4] https://www.qualys.com/2022/01/25/cve-2021-4034/pwnkit.txt
[5] https://github.com/KSPP/linux/issues/176
[6] https://codesearch.debian.net/search?q=execve%5C+*%5C%28%5B%5E%2C%5D%2B%2C+*NULL&literal=0
[7] https://codesearch.debian.net/search?q=execlp%3F%5Cs*%5C%28%5B%5E%2C%5D%2B%2C%5Cs*NULL&literal=0
[8] https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20220131144352.GE16385@xsang-OptiPlex-9020/
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 2.6.12 | 4.9.317 |
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 14 | linux | 5.17.3-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 5.17.3-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 5.17.3-1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-raspi-realtime | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux +1 | 5.15.0-37.39 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-aws | 5.15.0-1011.14 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure | 5.15.0-1010.12 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 5.15.0-1008.12 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gke | 5.15.0-1008.10 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-ibm | 5.15.0-1007.8 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-intel-iotg | 5.15.0-1008.11 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-kvm | 5.15.0-1010.11 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 5.15.0-1009.12 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-raspi | 5.15.0-1011.13 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv +32 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux | 5.4.0-126.142 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-aws | 5.4.0-1085.92 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-azure | 5.4.0-1091.96 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-azure-5.15 | 5.15.0-1008.9~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-bluefield | 5.4.0-1046.51 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 5.4.0-1089.97 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gke +28 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-hwe-5.15 | 5.15.0-41.44~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-ibm | 5.4.0-1033.37 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-intel-iotg-5.15 | 5.15.0-1008.11~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-iot | 5.4.0-1004.6 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-kvm | 5.4.0-1075.80 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15 | 5.15.0-42.45~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 5.4.0-1083.91 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-raspi | 5.4.0-1070.80 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux | 4.15.0-191.202 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-aws | 4.15.0-1139.150 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-aws-5.4 | 5.4.0-1085.92~18.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-azure-4.15 | 4.15.0-1149.164 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-azure-5.4 | 5.4.0-1091.96~18.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp +14 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp-4.15 | 4.15.0-1134.150 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp-5.4 | 5.4.0-1089.97~18.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-hwe-5.4 | 5.4.0-126.142~18.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-ibm-5.4 | 5.4.0-1033.37~18.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-kvm | 4.15.0-1125.130 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 4.15.0-1104.115 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-oracle-5.4 | 5.4.0-1083.91~18.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-raspi-5.4 | 5.4.0-1070.80~18.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe-edge | No fix yet | — |
Show 9 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 22.04 LTS | linux-realtime | 5.15.0-1014.14 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS 20.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS 18.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS 16.04 LTS | linux-fips | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS | linux-aws-fips | 5.4.0-1085.92+fips1 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS | linux-azure-fips | 5.4.0-1091.96+fips1 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS | linux-fips | 5.4.0-1061.69 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS | linux-gcp-fips | 5.4.0-1089.97+fips1 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 18.04 LTS | linux-aws-fips | 4.15.0-2078.83 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 18.04 LTS | linux-azure-fips | 4.15.0-2059.65 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 18.04 LTS | linux-fips | 4.15.0-1096.107 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp-fips | 4.15.0-2043.48 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 16.04 LTS | linux-fips | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | linux +2 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | linux-aws-hwe | 4.15.0-1139.150~16.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | linux-azure | 4.15.0-1149.164~16.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 4.15.0-1134.150~16.04.2 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe | 4.15.0-191.202~16.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 4.15.0-1104.115~16.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | linux +2 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | linux-azure | 4.15.0-1149.164~14.04.1 | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 9 | perf +29 | 5.14.0-162.6.1.el9_1 | RHSA-2022:8267 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP5 | kernel-64kb +6 | 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 |
| SLES 15 SP5 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1.150500.6.47.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 |
| SLES 15 SP4 | kernel-64kb +6 | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLES 15 SP4 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1.150400.24.78.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLES 15 SP3 | kernel-64kb +7 | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLES 15 SP3 | kernel-default-base | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1.150300.18.120.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLES 12 SP5 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.12.14-122.255.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1293-1 |
Show 18 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 15 SP5 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1.150500.6.47.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP5 | kernel-docs +4 | 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP4 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1.150400.24.78.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP4 | kernel-docs +4 | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP3 | kernel-default-base | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1.150300.18.120.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP3 | kernel-docs +5 | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.5 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1.150500.6.47.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.5 | kernel-rt +1 | 5.14.21-150500.13.91.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1176-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.5 | kernel-source +1 | 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.4 | kernel-default | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.4 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1.150400.24.78.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.4 | kernel-rt +1 | 5.14.21-150400.15.115.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1183-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.3 | kernel-default | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.3 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1.150400.24.78.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.3 | kernel-rt +1 | 5.14.21-150400.15.115.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1183-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.2 | kernel-default | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.2 | kernel-default-base | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1.150300.18.120.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.2 | kernel-rt +1 | 5.3.18-150300.205.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1194-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.1 | kernel-default | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.1 | kernel-default-base | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1.150300.18.120.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.1 | kernel-rt +1 | 5.3.18-150300.205.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1194-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP5 | kernel-default | 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP5 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP5_Update_25 | 1-150500.11.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP4 | kernel-default | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP4 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP4_Update_38 | 1-150400.9.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP3 | kernel-default | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP3 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP3_Update_56 | 1-150300.7.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 SP5 | kernel-default | 4.12.14-122.255.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1293-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 SP5 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP5_Update_67 | 1-8.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1293-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP5 | kernel-64kb +5 | 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP5 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1.150500.6.47.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP4 | kernel-64kb +5 | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP4 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1.150400.24.78.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP3 | kernel-64kb +6 | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP3 | kernel-default-base | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1.150300.18.120.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.3 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1.150400.24.78.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.3 | kernel-syms +3 | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.3 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1.150400.24.78.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.3 | kernel-syms +2 | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 7.1 | kernel-64kb +6 | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 7.1 | kernel-default-base | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1.150300.18.120.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2 | kernel-livepatch-4.14.285-215.501 | 1.0-0.amzn2 | ALAS2-2022-1813 |
| Amazon Linux 2 | perf +8 | 4.14.285-215.501.amzn2 | ALAS2-2022-1813 |
Advisories 9
- RHSA-2022:8267 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Oct 17, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:1194-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:1176-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:1183-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:1293-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- ALAS2-2022-1813 Important: kernel security update (Amazon Linux 2) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Oct 2, 2025
- SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Apr 16, 2025
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/41f6ea5b9aaa28b740d47ffe995a5013211fdbb0
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/98e0c7c702894987732776736c99b85ade6fba45
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b50fb8dbc8b81aaa126387de428f4c42a7c72a73
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1fe82bfd9e4ce93399d815ca458b58505191c3e8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/27a6f495b63a1804cc71be45911065db7757a98c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1290eb4412aa0f0e9f3434b406dc8e255da85f9e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a8054d3fa5deb84b215d6be1b910a978f3cb840d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cfbfff8ce5e3d674947581f1eb9af0a1b1807950
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dcd46d897adb70d63e025f175a00a89797d31a43