CVE-2003-0961

Integer overflow in the do_brk function for the brk system call in Linux kernel 2.4.22 and...

7.2 HighPublic exploitFix available

CVE-2003-0961 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.2) in Linux Kernel, published December 1, 2003. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 3.92%, the 90th percentile. Fixed in kernel-image-2.4.18-1-alpha 2.4.18-11.

What does this mean?

Severity: 7.2 HighCVSS 2.0, NVD
Exploit chance: 3.92%EPSS, 90th percentile
Exploitation: None known2 public exploits
Fixed in: 2.4.18-11kernel-image-2.4.18-1-alpha +18 more

Description

Integer overflow in the do_brk function for the brk system call in Linux kernel 2.4.22 and earlier allows local users to gain root privileges.

Exploit likelihood

3.92%Up 0.7 points since Feb 4, 2022

Affected products

linux kernel

Affected packages

Affected packages
Package	Affected	Fixed
`kernel-image-2.4.18-1-alpha` Debian:3.0	before 2.4.18-11	2.4.18-11
`kernel-image-2.4.18-1-i386` Debian:3.0	before 2.4.18-12	2.4.18-12
`kernel-source-2.4.18` Debian:3.0	before 2.4.18-14	2.4.18-14
`kernel-patch-2.4.18-powerpc` Debian:3.0 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs	before 2.4.18-1woody3	2.4.18-1woody3
`kernel-image-2.4.18-1-alpha` Debian:3.0 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs	before 2.4.18-12	2.4.18-12
`kernel-image-2.4.17-ia64` Debian:3.0 From an advisory covering 12 CVEs	before kernel-image-2.4.17-ia64	kernel-image-2.4.17-ia64
`kernel-patch-2.4.17-mips` Debian:3.0	before 2.4.17-0.020226.2.woody4	2.4.17-0.020226.2.woody4
`kernel-image-2.4.16-lart` Debian:3.0 From an advisory covering 3 CVEs	before 2.4.16-20040204	2.4.16-20040204
`kernel-image-2.4.16-netwinder` Debian:3.0 From an advisory covering 3 CVEs	before 2.4.16-20040204	2.4.16-20040204
`kernel-image-2.4.16-riscpc` Debian:3.0 From an advisory covering 3 CVEs	before 2.4.16-20040204	2.4.16-20040204

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Affected packages
Package	Affected	Fixed
`kernel-patch-2.4.16-arm` Debian:3.0 From an advisory covering 3 CVEs	before 20040204	20040204
`kernel-source-2.4.17` Debian:3.0 From an advisory covering 3 CVEs	before 2.4.17-4, plus listed versions 2.4.17-1woody32.4.17-1woody4	2.4.17-4
`kernel-patch-2.4.17-apus` Debian:3.0 From an advisory covering 3 CVEs	before 2.4.17-4	2.4.17-4
`kernel-patch-2.4.17-s390` Debian:3.0 From an advisory covering 10 CVEs	before 0.0.20020816-0.woody.2	0.0.20020816-0.woody.2
`kernel-image-2.4.17-s390` Debian:3.0 From an advisory covering 10 CVEs	before 2.4.17-2.woody.3	2.4.17-2.woody.3
`kernel-source-2.4.19` Debian:3.0 From an advisory covering 3 CVEs	before 2.4.19-0.020911.1.woody3	2.4.19-0.020911.1.woody3
`kernel-patch-2.4.19-mips` Debian:3.0 From an advisory covering 3 CVEs	before 2.4.19-4.woody1, plus listed versions 2.4.19-0.020911.1.woody42.4.19-0.020911.1.woody5	2.4.19-4.woody1
`kernel-image-2.4.17-hppa` Debian:3.0 From an advisory covering 3 CVEs	before 32.3	32.3
`kernel-image-2.4.18-hppa` Debian:3.0 From an advisory covering 3 CVEs	before 62.1	62.1

Public exploits

Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.

Public exploits
Source	Link	Date
Exploit-DB	Linux Kernel 2.4.22 - 'do_brk()' Local Privilege Escalation (1)	2003-12-02
Exploit-DB	Linux Kernel 2.4.22 - 'do_brk()' Local Privilege Escalation (2)	2003-12-05

What each source reports

NVD Score used7.2

Integer overflow in the do_brk function for the brk system call in Linux kernel 2.4.22 and earlier allows local users to gain root privileges.

Record: CVE-2003-0961
CVSS 2.0: 7.2 HighAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
Updated: 2026-11-02

CVE ListNo score

Integer overflow in the do_brk function for the brk system call in Linux kernel 2.4.22 and earlier allows local users to gain root privileges.

Record: CVE-2003-0961
Updated: 2026-11-02

EUVDEUVD-2003-0951No score

Integer overflow in the do_brk function for the brk system call in Linux kernel 2.4.22 and earlier allows local users to gain root privileges.

Record: EUVD-2003-0951
Updated: 2026-11-03

GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-v5w6-5r75-rfr6No score

Integer overflow in the do_brk function for the brk system call in Linux kernel 2.4.22 and...

Integer overflow in the do_brk function for the brk system call in Linux kernel 2.4.22 and earlier allows local users to gain root privileges.

Record: GHSA-v5w6-5r75-rfr6
Updated: 2026-11-02

History

History
Recorded	Changed	Sources
Nov 6, 2026	affected, facts
Nov 3, 2026	aliases	EUVD
Nov 2, 2026	first indexed	CVE List, Exploit-DB, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

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

References

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