CVE-2009-4141

Linux kernel <2.6.33-rc4 - Privilege Escalation

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 1 public exploit for CVE-2009-4141. PoCs published by Tavis Ormandy.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit leverages a race condition in the Linux kernel (CVE-2009-4141) to trigger a use-after-free vulnerability, potentially allowing local privilege escalation. The PoC manipulates file descriptor locks and async flags to exploit the bug during process execution.

Description

Use-after-free vulnerability in the fasync_helper function in fs/fcntl.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.33-rc4-git1 allows local users to gain privileges via vectors that include enabling O_ASYNC (aka FASYNC or FIOASYNC) on a locked file, and then closing this file.

Exploits (1)

exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Tavis Ormandy · clocallinux
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/33523

This exploit leverages a race condition in the Linux kernel (CVE-2009-4141) to trigger a use-after-free vulnerability, potentially allowing local privilege escalation. The PoC manipulates file descriptor locks and async flags to exploit the bug during process execution.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Racy
Target: Linux Kernel 2.6.28 and later
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Local access to the target system · Kernel version 2.6.28 or later
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (16)

Core 16
Core References
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry signature x_refsource_oval
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A9201
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/37806
Vendor Advisory x_refsource_confirm
http://support.avaya.com/css/P8/documents/100073666
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry signature x_refsource_oval
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A7054
Issue Tracking x_refsource_confirm
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=547906
Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/39033
Vendor Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/38199
Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_redhat
https://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2010-0095.html
Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_redhat
https://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2010-0046.html
Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_redhat
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2010-0161.html

Scores

EPSS 0.0097
EPSS Percentile 57.2%

Details

CWE
CWE-399
Status published
Products (50)
linux/linux_kernel 2.6.0
linux/linux_kernel 2.6.1
linux/linux_kernel 2.6.2
linux/linux_kernel 2.6.3
linux/linux_kernel 2.6.4
linux/linux_kernel 2.6.5
linux/linux_kernel 2.6.6
linux/linux_kernel 2.6.7
linux/linux_kernel 2.6.8
linux/linux_kernel 2.6.8.1
... and 40 more
Published Jan 19, 2010
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026