CVE-2003-0985

Linux kernel 2.4.x < 2.4.21 - Denial of Service and Privilege Escalation via mremap Bounds Check Bypass

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 3 public exploits for CVE-2003-0985. PoCs published by Paul Starzetz, Christophe Devine.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit targets a Linux kernel vulnerability (CVE-2003-0985) in the mremap() system call, which allows local privilege escalation to root by manipulating memory mappings and exploiting a race condition. The PoC uses a combination of memory mapping, signal handling, and slab allocation manipulation to achieve arbitrary code execution in kernel context.

Description

The mremap system call (do_mremap) in Linux kernel 2.4.x before 2.4.21, and possibly other versions before 2.4.24, does not properly perform bounds checks, which allows local users to cause a denial of service and possibly gain privileges by causing a remapping of a virtual memory area (VMA) to create a zero length VMA, a different vulnerability than CAN-2004-0077.

Exploits (3)

exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Paul Starzetz · clocallinux
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/145

This exploit targets a Linux kernel vulnerability (CVE-2003-0985) in the mremap() system call, which allows local privilege escalation to root by manipulating memory mappings and exploiting a race condition. The PoC uses a combination of memory mapping, signal handling, and slab allocation manipulation to achieve arbitrary code execution in kernel context.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Complex
Reliability
Racy
Target: Linux kernel (versions prior to 2.4.23 and 2.6.0)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Local access to the vulnerable system · Kernel version vulnerable to CVE-2003-0985
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Christophe Devine · clocallinux
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/142

This code tests the do_mremap() Linux kernel bug (CVE-2003-0985) by attempting to remap memory regions. It checks if the kernel is vulnerable by verifying if the remapping operation succeeds, which could lead to privilege escalation.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Linux kernel 2.4.23 and earlier, 2.6.0
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Access to a vulnerable Linux kernel version
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Christophe Devine · clocallinux
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/141

This PoC exploits a vulnerability in the Linux kernel's do_mremap() function (CVE-2003-0985) by attempting to remap memory with invalid parameters, potentially leading to a local privilege escalation. The code calls real_mremap with a zero-sized old region and a fixed new address, triggering the vulnerability.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Linux kernel (versions prior to 2.4.23 and 2.6.0)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Local access to the target system · Kernel version vulnerable to CVE-2003-0985
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (46)

Core 46
Core References
Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/20163
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_debian
http://www.debian.org/security/2006/dsa-1082
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_debian
http://www.debian.org/security/2004/dsa-423
Patch, Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_redhat
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2003-417.html
Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_conectiva
http://distro.conectiva.com.br/atualizacoes/?id=a&anuncio=000799
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_debian
http://www.debian.org/security/2004/dsa-450
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_debian
http://www.debian.org/security/2006/dsa-1070
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_debian
http://www.debian.org/security/2004/dsa-440
Mailing List mailing-list x_refsource_bugtraq
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=107394143105081&w=2
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_debian
http://www.debian.org/security/2004/dsa-439
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_debian
http://www.debian.org/security/2006/dsa-1067
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_debian
http://www.debian.org/security/2004/dsa-475
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_debian
http://www.debian.org/security/2006/dsa-1069
Patch, Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_engarde
http://www.linuxsecurity.com/advisories/engarde_advisory-3904.html
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_debian
http://www.debian.org/security/2004/dsa-417
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_debian
http://www.debian.org/security/2004/dsa-442
Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/20202
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_debian
http://www.debian.org/security/2004/dsa-470
Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/20338
Various Sources vendor-advisory x_refsource_immunix
http://download.immunix.org/ImmunixOS/7.3/updates/IMNX-2004-73-001-01
Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_redhat
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2003-416.html
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_xf
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/14135
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_debian
http://www.debian.org/security/2004/dsa-413
Mailing List mailing-list x_refsource_bugtraq
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=107340358402129&w=2
Mailing List mailing-list x_refsource_bugtraq
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=107350348418373&w=2
Mailing List mailing-list x_refsource_bugtraq
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=107340814409017&w=2
Mailing List vendor-advisory x_refsource_trustix
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=107332754521495&w=2
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry signature x_refsource_oval
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A860
Third Party Advisory mailing-list x_refsource_bugtraq
http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/bugtraq/2004-01/0070.html
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_osvdb
http://www.osvdb.org/3315
Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_sgi
ftp://patches.sgi.com/support/free/security/advisories/20040102-01-U
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry signature x_refsource_oval
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A867
Exploit, Patch, Vendor Advisory vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/9356
Various Sources x_refsource_misc
http://isec.pl/vulnerabilities/isec-0013-mremap.txt
Mailing List mailing-list x_refsource_bugtraq
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=107332782121916&w=2
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_debian
http://www.debian.org/security/2004/dsa-427
Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_redhat
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2003-418.html
Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource third-party-advisory government-resource x_refsource_ciac
http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/o-045.shtml
Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_redhat
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2003-419.html
Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_suse
http://www.novell.com/linux/security/advisories/2004_03_linux_kernel.html
Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/10532
US Government Resource third-party-advisory x_refsource_cert-vn
http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/490620
Various Sources vendor-advisory x_refsource_mandrake
http://www.mandrakesoft.com/security/advisories?name=MDKSA-2004:001

Scores

EPSS 0.0123
EPSS Percentile 65.1%

Details

Status published
Products (22)
linux/linux_kernel 2.4.0 (13 CPE variants)
linux/linux_kernel 2.4.1
linux/linux_kernel 2.4.2
linux/linux_kernel 2.4.3
linux/linux_kernel 2.4.4
linux/linux_kernel 2.4.5
linux/linux_kernel 2.4.6
linux/linux_kernel 2.4.7
linux/linux_kernel 2.4.8
linux/linux_kernel 2.4.9
... and 12 more
Published Jan 20, 2004
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026