CVE-2008-4210

Linux Kernel < 2.6.22 - Privilege Escalation via Setuid/Setgid Bit Handling

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 1 public exploit for CVE-2008-4210. PoCs published by gat3way.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit leverages a Linux kernel vulnerability (CVE-2008-4210) in versions < 2.6.22 to achieve local privilege escalation by manipulating file truncation and memory mapping in a SGID directory. It copies a privileged shell (ash/sash) to a new file with SGID permissions set, allowing execution with elevated group privileges.

Description

fs/open.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.22 does not properly strip setuid and setgid bits when there is a write to a file, which allows local users to gain the privileges of a different group, and obtain sensitive information or possibly have unspecified other impact, by creating an executable file in a setgid directory through the (1) truncate or (2) ftruncate function in conjunction with memory-mapped I/O.

Exploits (1)

exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by gat3way · clocallinux
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/6851

This exploit leverages a Linux kernel vulnerability (CVE-2008-4210) in versions < 2.6.22 to achieve local privilege escalation by manipulating file truncation and memory mapping in a SGID directory. It copies a privileged shell (ash/sash) to a new file with SGID permissions set, allowing execution with elevated group privileges.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Linux kernel < 2.6.22
No auth needed
Prerequisites: A world-writable SGID directory · Presence of a shell (ash/sash) that retains SGID privileges
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (31)

Core 31
Core References
Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/32485
Exploit vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/31368
Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/32237
Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_redhat
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-0957.html
Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_redhat
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2008-0972.html
Mailing List mailing-list x_refsource_mlist
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/09/24/8
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry signature x_refsource_oval
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6386
Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/33280
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_debian
http://www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1653
Mailing List mailing-list x_refsource_mlist
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/09/24/5
Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/32356
Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/32918
Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_ubuntu
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/usn-679-1
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry signature x_refsource_oval
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A9511
Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/32759
Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_mandriva
http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2008:220
Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/32344
Issue Tracking x_refsource_confirm
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=463661
Issue Tracking x_refsource_confirm
http://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=8420
Various Sources x_refsource_confirm
http://kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.22
Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_redhat
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-0973.html
Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_redhat
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-0787.html
Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/32799
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_xf
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/45539
Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/33201

Scores

EPSS 0.0214
EPSS Percentile 79.6%

Details

CWE
CWE-264
Status published
Products (23)
linux/linux_kernel 2.2.27
linux/linux_kernel 2.4.36
linux/linux_kernel 2.4.36.1
linux/linux_kernel 2.4.36.2
linux/linux_kernel 2.4.36.3
linux/linux_kernel 2.4.36.4
linux/linux_kernel 2.4.36.5
linux/linux_kernel 2.4.36.6
linux/linux_kernel 2.6
linux/linux_kernel 2.6.18 (8 CPE variants)
... and 13 more
Published Sep 29, 2008
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026