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CVE-2010-3904

Local Privilege Escalation in Linux Kernel RDS Implementation

CISA: Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation Vulnerability

CVSS
—
EPSS
16%p97
Published
—
Added to KEV
Analyze CVE-2010-3904 with Vani AIImpact, affected versions, exploitation status, mitigations and detection

Linux Kernel contains an improper input validation flaw (CWE-20) in its Reliable Datagram Sockets (RDS) protocol implementation, which mishandles data passed through the sendmsg and recvmsg system calls. A local user who can create an RDS socket and issue crafted sendmsg/recvmsg calls triggers the flaw and corrupts kernel memory. Successful exploitation yields local privilege escalation, allowing an unprivileged user to execute code with elevated (root) privileges. Any Linux system whose kernel includes RDS support is affected, though specific version ranges are not provided in the available data, and exploitation requires an attacker to already have some local foothold on the machine. CISA added CVE-2010-3904 to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2023-05-12, confirming active exploitation (ransomware use unknown); EPSS estimates a 14.6% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days (96th percentile), and no public proof-of-concept is catalogued.

What to do: Install your distribution's updated kernel packages containing the RDS input-validation fix (vendors have long backported this patch) and reboot into the patched kernel. Verify whether RDS is present and loadable (e.g., check 'lsmod | grep rds' and /proc/net/rds) and restrict unprivileged local shell access, since exploitation requires local code execution. Per CISA's KEV required action, the impacted product is end-of-life, so disconnect or decommission systems still running unpatched/EOL kernels, and monitor for Linux-targeting campaigns such as UAT-10147, which deploys EDR bypass and Linux rootkits that pair naturally with local privilege escalation flaws.

ProductAffected
Linux Kernel—
Estimated exposure
massmillions of Linux installations potentially affected historically; current unpatched exposure likely in the 100k-1M+ range, concentrated in legacy/EOL systems — Linux runs on the majority of internet-facing servers and embedded devices and common distribution kernels ship the RDS module, so the theoretical installed base is millions, but the flaw's age and long-available fixes mean live exposure…

Order-of-magnitude estimate by the model from install counts, market share and public scan data it knows; verify before quoting.

Description · NVD

Linux Kernel contains an improper input validation vulnerability in the Reliable Datagram Sockets (RDS) protocol implementation that allows local users to gain privileges via crafted use of the sendmsg and recvmsg system calls.

KEVCISA Known Exploited Vulnerability
Affected
Linux Kernel
Required action
The impacted product is end-of-life and should be disconnected if still in use.
Due date
Ransomware use
Unknown
Vendors
Linux
Products
Kernel
Weakness
CWE-20

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