Vulnerability identifier: #VU95774

Vulnerability risk: Low

CVSSv3.1: 2.9 [CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L/E:U/RL:O/RC:C]

CVE-ID: CVE-2004-0427

CWE-ID: CWE-401

Exploitation vector: Local

Exploit availability: No

Vulnerable software:
Linux kernel
Operating systems & Components / Operating system

Vendor: Linux Foundation

Description

The vulnerability allows a local user to perform service disruption.

The do_fork function in Linux 2.4.x before 2.4.26, and 2.6.x before 2.6.6, does not properly decrement the mm_count counter when an error occurs after the mm_struct for a child process has been activated, which triggers a memory leak that allows local users to cause a denial of service (memory exhaustion) via the clone (CLONE_VM) system call.

Mitigation
Install update from vendor's repository.

Vulnerable software versions

Linux kernel:

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External links
http:ftp://patches.sgi.com/support/free/security/advisories/20040504-01-U.asc
ftp://patches.sgi.com/support/free/security/advisories/20040505-01-U.asc
http://distro.conectiva.com.br/atualizacoes/?id=a&anuncio=000846
http://fedoranews.org/updates/FEDORA-2004-111.shtml
http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200407-02.xml
http://www.novell.com/linux/security/advisories/2004_10_kernel.html
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2004-255.html
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2004-260.html
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2004-327.html
http://www.turbolinux.com/security/2004/TLSA-2004-14.txt
http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/o-164.shtml
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/10221
http://secunia.com/advisories/11429
http://secunia.com/advisories/11464
http://secunia.com/advisories/11486
http://secunia.com/advisories/11541
http://secunia.com/advisories/11861
http://secunia.com/advisories/11891
http://secunia.com/advisories/11892
http://www.debian.org/security/2006/dsa-1070
http://www.debian.org/security/2006/dsa-1067
http://www.debian.org/security/2006/dsa-1069
http://secunia.com/advisories/20162
http://secunia.com/advisories/20163
http://secunia.com/advisories/20202
http://www.debian.org/security/2006/dsa-1082
http://secunia.com/advisories/20338
http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDKSA-2004:037
http://marc.info/?l=linux-kernel&m=108139073506983&w=2
http://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/16002
http://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A2819
http://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A10297
http://linux.bkbits.net:8080/linux-2.6/cset%40407b1217x4jtqEkpFW2g_-RcF0726A
http://linux.bkbits.net:8080/linux-2.4/cset%40407bf20eDeeejm8t36_tpvSE-8EFHA

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Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

No. This vulnerability can be exploited locally. The attacker should have authentication credentials and successfully authenticate on the system.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

No. We are not aware of malware exploiting this vulnerability.