How severe is CVE-2003-0956?

CVE-2003-0956 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 2.6, rated low severity.

Is CVE-2003-0956 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (22nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2003-0956?

CVE-2003-0956 affects Linux Linux Kernel. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2003-0956?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2003-0956 published?

CVE-2003-0956 was published on 2003-12-31 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

CVE-2003-0956

CVE-2003-0956 is a low-severity vulnerability in Linux Linux Kernel with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 2.6. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low.

Key facts

Severity: Low (CVSS 2.0 base score 2.6)
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (22nd percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Affected product: Linux Linux Kernel
Published: 2003-12-31
Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

Multiple race conditions in the handling of O_DIRECT in Linux kernel prior to version 2.4.22 could cause stale data to be returned from the disk when handling sparse files, or cause incorrect data to be returned when a file is truncated as it is being read, which might allow local users to obtain sensitive data that was originally owned by other users, a different vulnerability than CVE-2003-0018.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2003-0956?: Multiple race conditions in the handling of O_DIRECT in Linux kernel prior to version 2.4.22 could cause stale data to be returned from the disk when handling sparse files, or cause incorrect data to be returned when a file is truncated as it is being read, which might allow local users to obtain sensitive data that was originally owned by other users, a different vulnerability than CVE-2003-0018.
How severe is CVE-2003-0956?: CVE-2003-0956 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 2.6, rated low severity.
Is CVE-2003-0956 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (22nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2003-0956?: CVE-2003-0956 affects Linux Linux Kernel. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2003-0956?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2003-0956 published?: CVE-2003-0956 was published on 2003-12-31 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.4.22:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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