High

Linux Kernel Module Loader ptrace Local Privilege Escalation

IdentifiersCVE-2003-0127CWE-362

CVE-2003-0127 is a race condition in the Linux kernel module loader affecting Linux kernel 2.2 releases before 2.2.25 and 2.4 releases before 2.4.21. A local user can use ptrace to attach to a child process spawned by the kernel, allowing exploitation of the module-loading path to obtain root privileges.

For your environment

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ANALYST BRIEF

Impact, mitigation & remediation

What it means. What to do now. Patch path, mitigations, and the assume-compromise checklist.

Impact

What an attacker gets, and what they’ve been doing with it.

Successful exploitation allows a local attacker to escalate privileges to root on the affected system.

Mitigation

If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.

Where an immediate kernel upgrade is not possible, reduce exposure by disabling kernel module loading where operationally feasible and restricting or blocking ptrace use. Review the configured module-loader helper path and avoid configurations that permit untrusted local users to trigger the vulnerable module-loading behavior.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Upgrade Linux kernel 2.2 systems to version 2.2.25 or later, or Linux kernel 2.4 systems to version 2.4.21 or later.

PUBLIC EXPLOITS

Exploits

No valid public exploits. Mallory filtered out 5 candidates as fakes, detection scripts, or README-only repos.

VALID 0 / 5 TOTALView more in app

All candidate exploits were filtered out by Mallory's validation.

EXPOSURE SURFACE

Affected products & vendors

Products and vendors Mallory has correlated with this vulnerability. Open in Mallory to drill down to specific CPE configurations and version ranges.

VendorProductType

LinuxLinux Kerneloperating_system

Vendor-confirmed product mapping. Mallory continuously reconciles this list against your asset inventory.

ACTIVITY FEED

Recent activity

2 sources tracked across advisories and community write-ups. News coverage will land here when it surfaces.

2 SOURCESView more in app

No news coverage yet. Advisories and community discussion only.

What this page doesn’t show

The version that knows your environment.

This page is what’s public. Mallory adds the parts that aren’t: which of your assets are affected, which adversaries are exploiting it right now, which detections to deploy, and what to do tonight.

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Exposure mapping

Query your assets running an affected version, and investigate the blast radius.

Threat actor evidence

Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.

Associated malware

Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.

Detection signatures

YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.

Vendor-by-vendor mapping

Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.

Social activity1