CVE-2010-4258

Name: CVE-2010-4258
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2010-12-30T19:00:04.41+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

UnknownEPSS 2.66%

Last modified Jun 16, 2026

CVE-2010-4258 is a vulnerability of currently unknown severity. The do_exit function in kernel/exit.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.36.2 does not properly handle a KERNEL_DS get_fs value, which allows local users to bypass intended access_ok restrictions, overwrite arbitrary kernel memory locations, and gain privileges by leveraging a (1) BUG, (2) NULL pointer dereference, or (3) page fault, as demonstrated by vectors involving the clear_child_tid feature and the splice system call.. EPSS estimates a 2.66% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

The do_exit function in kernel/exit.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.36.2 does not properly handle a KERNEL_DS get_fs value, which allows local users to bypass intended access_ok restrictions, overwrite arbitrary kernel memory locations, and gain privileges by leveraging a (1) BUG, (2) NULL pointer dereference, or (3) page fault, as demonstrated by vectors involving the clear_child_tid feature and the splice system call.

Metrics

EPSS Probability

2.66%

83.7th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-269

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions	Update
Linux	Linux Kernel	< 2.6.36.2	—
Fedoraproject	Fedora	13	—
Opensuse	Opensuse	11.2	—
Opensuse	Opensuse	11.3	—
Suse	Linux Enterprise Desktop	10	Sp3
Suse	Linux Enterprise Desktop	11	Sp1
Suse	Linux Enterprise Real Time Extension	11	Sp1
Suse	Linux Enterprise Server	9	—
Suse	Linux Enterprise Server	10	Sp3
Suse	Linux Enterprise Server	11	Sp1
Suse	Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit	10	Sp3

References

http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/fulldisclosure/2010-12/0086.htmlBroken Link
http://blog.nelhage.com/2010/12/cve-2010-4258-from-dos-to-privesc/Third Party Advisory
http://code.google.com/p/chromium-os/issues/detail?id=10234Third Party Advisory
http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=33dd94ae1ccbfb7bf0fb6c692bc3d1c4269e6177
http://googlechromereleases.blogspot.com/2011/01/chrome-os-beta-channel-update.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2010-December/052513.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2011-01/msg00000.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2011-01/msg00001.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2011-01/msg00004.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2011-01/msg00007.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2011-02/msg00000.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2011-02/msg00002.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://marc.info/?l=linux-kernel&m=129117048916957&w=2Patch, Third Party Advisory
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/12/02/2Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/12/02/3Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/12/02/4Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/12/02/7Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/12/08/4Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/12/08/5Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/12/08/9Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/12/09/14Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/12/09/4Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/42745Third Party Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/42778Third Party Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/42801Third Party Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/42932Third Party Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/43056Third Party Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/43291Third Party Advisory
http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.36.2Broken Link
http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2011:029Third Party Advisory
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2010/3321Third Party Advisory
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0012Third Party Advisory
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0124Third Party Advisory
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0213Third Party Advisory
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0298Third Party Advisory
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0375Third Party Advisory
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=659567Issue Tracking, Third Party Advisory
https://lkml.org/lkml/2010/12/1/543Mailing List, Patch, Third Party Advisory
http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/fulldisclosure/2010-12/0086.htmlBroken Link
http://blog.nelhage.com/2010/12/cve-2010-4258-from-dos-to-privesc/Third Party Advisory
http://code.google.com/p/chromium-os/issues/detail?id=10234Third Party Advisory
http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=33dd94ae1ccbfb7bf0fb6c692bc3d1c4269e6177
http://googlechromereleases.blogspot.com/2011/01/chrome-os-beta-channel-update.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2010-December/052513.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2011-01/msg00000.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2011-01/msg00001.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2011-01/msg00004.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2011-01/msg00007.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2011-02/msg00000.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2011-02/msg00002.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://marc.info/?l=linux-kernel&m=129117048916957&w=2Patch, Third Party Advisory
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/12/02/2Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/12/02/3Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/12/02/4Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/12/02/7Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/12/08/4Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/12/08/5Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/12/08/9Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/12/09/14Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/12/09/4Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/42745Third Party Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/42778Third Party Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/42801Third Party Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/42932Third Party Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/43056Third Party Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/43291Third Party Advisory
http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.36.2Broken Link
http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2011:029Third Party Advisory
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2010/3321Third Party Advisory
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0012Third Party Advisory
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0124Third Party Advisory
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0213Third Party Advisory
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0298Third Party Advisory
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0375Third Party Advisory
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=659567Issue Tracking, Third Party Advisory
https://lkml.org/lkml/2010/12/1/543Mailing List, Patch, Third Party Advisory

Timeline

Published: Dec 30, 2010
Last Modified: Jun 16, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2010-4258?

How severe is CVE-2010-4258?

Severity scoring for CVE-2010-4258 is pending analysis. The EPSS model estimates a 2.66% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2010-4258?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.

Are you affected by CVE-2010-4258?

Run a free Strix scan to check your systems for this vulnerability.

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Source: NVD / NIST