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CVE-2009-1338

The kill_something_info function in kernel/signal.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.28 does not...

4.6 Medium

CVE-2009-1338 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 4.6) in Linux Kernel, published April 22, 2009. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.39%, the 33rd percentile. No source names a fixed version.

What does this mean?
Severity
4.6 MediumCVSS 2.0, NVD
Exploit chance
0.39%EPSS, 33rd percentile
Exploitation
None knownNot on CISA’s or ENISA’s lists
Fixed in
No fix listedNo source names one

Description

The kill_something_info function in kernel/signal.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.28 does not consider PID namespaces when processing signals directed to PID -1, which allows local users to bypass the intended namespace isolation, and send arbitrary signals to all processes in all namespaces, via a kill command.

Exploit likelihood

0.39%Down 1.2 points since Feb 4, 2022
90%50%10%1%

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
linux-2.6.24
Debian:4.0
From an advisory covering 24 CVEs
before 2.6.24-6~etchnhalf.8etch1, plus listed versions
2.6.24-5~etchnhalf.12.6.24-6~etchnhalf.12.6.24-6~etchnhalf.22.6.24-6~etchnhalf.32.6.24-6~etchnhalf.4
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2.6.24-6~etchnhalf.52.6.24-6~etchnhalf.62.6.24-6~etchnhalf.72.6.24-6~etchnhalf.8
2.6.24-6~etchnhalf.8etch1
linux-2.6
Debian:5.0
From an advisory covering 13 CVEs
before 2.6.26-15lenny2, plus listed versions
2.6.26-132.6.26-13lenny22.6.26-13lenny2~bpo40+12.6.26-142.6.26-152.6.26-15lenny12.6.26-15~bpo40+12.6.26-15~bpo40+2
2.6.26-15lenny2
user-mode-linux
Debian:5.0
From an advisory covering 13 CVEs
before 2.6.26-1um-2+15lenny2, plus listed versions
2.6.26-1um-22.6.26-1um-2+15
2.6.26-1um-2+15lenny2
kernel-rt
Red Hat:enterprise_mrg:1::el5
From an advisory covering 5 CVEs
before 0:2.6.24.7-117.el5rt
0:2.6.24.7-117.el5rt
kernel-rt-debug
Red Hat:enterprise_mrg:1::el5
From an advisory covering 5 CVEs
before 0:2.6.24.7-117.el5rt
0:2.6.24.7-117.el5rt
kernel-rt-debug-debuginfo
Red Hat:enterprise_mrg:1::el5
From an advisory covering 5 CVEs
before 0:2.6.24.7-117.el5rt
0:2.6.24.7-117.el5rt
kernel-rt-debug-devel
Red Hat:enterprise_mrg:1::el5
From an advisory covering 5 CVEs
before 0:2.6.24.7-117.el5rt
0:2.6.24.7-117.el5rt
kernel-rt-debuginfo
Red Hat:enterprise_mrg:1::el5
From an advisory covering 5 CVEs
before 0:2.6.24.7-117.el5rt
0:2.6.24.7-117.el5rt
kernel-rt-debuginfo-common
Red Hat:enterprise_mrg:1::el5
From an advisory covering 5 CVEs
before 0:2.6.24.7-117.el5rt
0:2.6.24.7-117.el5rt
kernel-rt-devel
Red Hat:enterprise_mrg:1::el5
From an advisory covering 5 CVEs
before 0:2.6.24.7-117.el5rt
0:2.6.24.7-117.el5rt
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Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
kernel-rt-doc
Red Hat:enterprise_mrg:1::el5
From an advisory covering 5 CVEs
before 0:2.6.24.7-117.el5rt
0:2.6.24.7-117.el5rt
kernel-rt-trace
Red Hat:enterprise_mrg:1::el5
From an advisory covering 5 CVEs
before 0:2.6.24.7-117.el5rt
0:2.6.24.7-117.el5rt
kernel-rt-trace-debuginfo
Red Hat:enterprise_mrg:1::el5
From an advisory covering 5 CVEs
before 0:2.6.24.7-117.el5rt
0:2.6.24.7-117.el5rt
kernel-rt-trace-devel
Red Hat:enterprise_mrg:1::el5
From an advisory covering 5 CVEs
before 0:2.6.24.7-117.el5rt
0:2.6.24.7-117.el5rt
kernel-rt-vanilla
Red Hat:enterprise_mrg:1::el5
From an advisory covering 5 CVEs
before 0:2.6.24.7-117.el5rt
0:2.6.24.7-117.el5rt
kernel-rt-vanilla-debuginfo
Red Hat:enterprise_mrg:1::el5
From an advisory covering 5 CVEs
before 0:2.6.24.7-117.el5rt
0:2.6.24.7-117.el5rt
kernel-rt-vanilla-devel
Red Hat:enterprise_mrg:1::el5
From an advisory covering 5 CVEs
before 0:2.6.24.7-117.el5rt
0:2.6.24.7-117.el5rt

What each source reports

NVD Score used4.6

The kill_something_info function in kernel/signal.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.28 does not consider PID namespaces when processing signals directed to PID -1, which allows local users to bypass the intended namespace isolation, and send arbitrary signals to all processes in all namespaces, via a kill command.

Record
CVE-2009-1338
CVSS 2.0
4.6 MediumAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
Weakness
CWE-264
Updated
2026-11-02
CVE ListNo score

The kill_something_info function in kernel/signal.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.28 does not consider PID namespaces when processing signals directed to PID -1, which allows local users to bypass the intended namespace isolation, and send arbitrary signals to all processes in all namespaces, via a kill command.

Record
CVE-2009-1338
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2009-1336No score

The kill_something_info function in kernel/signal.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.28 does not consider PID namespaces when processing signals directed to PID -1, which allows local users to bypass the intended namespace isolation, and send arbitrary signals to all processes in all namespaces, via a kill command.

Record
EUVD-2009-1336
Updated
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-qwmr-cmwr-523qNo score

The kill_something_info function in kernel/signal.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.28 does not...

The kill_something_info function in kernel/signal.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.28 does not consider PID namespaces when processing signals directed to PID -1, which allows local users to bypass the intended namespace isolation, and send arbitrary signals to all processes in all namespaces, via a kill command.

Record
GHSA-qwmr-cmwr-523q
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVBELL-CVE-2009-13384.6

CVE-2009-1338 does not affect BellSoft software

Record
BELL-CVE-2009-1338
CVSS 2.0
4.6 MediumAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
Updated
2026-11-02

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
affected, facts
aliasesEUVD
first indexedCVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

References

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