CVE-2010-4165

Linux Kernel < 2.6.37 - Denial of Service via TCP_MAXSEG Setsockopt

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 2 public exploits for CVE-2010-4165. PoCs published by prdelka, zx2c4.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit triggers a divide-by-zero error in the Linux Kernel's tcp_select_initial_window function by setting TCP_MAXSEG to a malformed value via setsockopt(), causing a local denial-of-service (kernel oops). It requires a listening socket and a subsequent TCP connection to trigger the vulnerability.

Description

The do_tcp_setsockopt function in net/ipv4/tcp.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.37-rc2 does not properly restrict TCP_MAXSEG (aka MSS) values, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (OOPS) via a setsockopt call that specifies a small value, leading to a divide-by-zero error or incorrect use of a signed integer.

Exploits (2)

exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by prdelka · cdoslinux
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/16263

This exploit triggers a divide-by-zero error in the Linux Kernel's tcp_select_initial_window function by setting TCP_MAXSEG to a malformed value via setsockopt(), causing a local denial-of-service (kernel oops). It requires a listening socket and a subsequent TCP connection to trigger the vulnerability.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Dos
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Linux Kernel <= 2.6.37
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Ability to create and bind a TCP socket · Local access to the target system
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
exploitdb WORKING POC
by zx2c4 · cdoslinux
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/16952

This exploit triggers a divide-by-zero error in the Linux kernel (CVE-2010-4165) by setting an invalid TCP_MAXSEG value, causing a kernel panic and system crash. It demonstrates a reliable DoS condition affecting Linux kernels prior to 2.6.37-rc2.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Dos
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Linux kernel < 2.6.37-rc2
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Local or remote network access to the target system
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (23)

Core 23
Core References
Mailing List, Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_suse
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2011-01/msg00004.html
Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/42778
Mailing List, Patch, Third Party Advisory mailing-list x_refsource_mlist
http://www.spinics.net/lists/netdev/msg146405.html
Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/42801
Mailing List, Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_suse
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2011-01/msg00001.html
Mailing List, Patch, Third Party Advisory mailing-list x_refsource_mlist
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/11/12/4
Mailing List, Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_suse
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2011-01/msg00000.html
Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/42932
Broken Link vdb-entry x_refsource_osvdb
http://www.osvdb.org/69241
Third Party Advisory vdb-entry x_refsource_vupen
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0124
Mailing List, Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_suse
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2011-02/msg00000.html
Third Party Advisory vdb-entry x_refsource_vupen
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0298
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_mandriva
http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2011:051
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/44830
Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory x_refsource_confirm
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=652508
Mailing List, Patch, Third Party Advisory mailing-list x_refsource_mlist
http://www.spinics.net/lists/netdev/msg146495.html
Mailing List, Patch, Third Party Advisory mailing-list x_refsource_mlist
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/11/12/1
Third Party Advisory vdb-entry x_refsource_vupen
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0012
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_mandriva
http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2011:029
Exploit, Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_sreason
http://securityreason.com/securityalert/8111
Exploit, Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_sreason
http://securityreason.com/securityalert/8123

Scores

EPSS 0.0135
EPSS Percentile 67.9%

Details

CWE
CWE-369
Status published
Products (7)
linux/linux_kernel 2.6.37 (2 CPE variants)
linux/linux_kernel < 2.6.37
opensuse/opensuse 11.2
opensuse/opensuse 11.3
suse/linux_enterprise_desktop 11 sp1
suse/linux_enterprise_real_time_extension 11 sp1
suse/linux_enterprise_server 11 sp1
Published Nov 22, 2010
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026