CVE-2009-2848

CVE-2009-2848 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Vmware Vma with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 5.9. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-269.

Key facts

• Severity: Medium (CVSS 2.0 base score 5.9)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (40th percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-269
• Affected product: Vmware Vma
• Published: 2009-08-18
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

The execve function in the Linux kernel, possibly 2.6.30-rc6 and earlier, does not properly clear the current->clear_child_tid pointer, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) or possibly gain privileges via a clone system call with CLONE_CHILD_SETTID or CLONE_CHILD_CLEARTID enabled, which is not properly handled during thread creation and exit.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2009-2848?

The execve function in the Linux kernel, possibly 2.6.30-rc6 and earlier, does not properly clear the current->clear_child_tid pointer, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) or possibly gain privileges via a clone system call with CLONE_CHILD_SETTID or CLONE_CHILD_CLEARTID enabled, which is not properly handled during thread creation and exit.

How severe is CVE-2009-2848?

CVE-2009-2848 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 5.9, rated medium severity.

Is CVE-2009-2848 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (40th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2009-2848?

CVE-2009-2848 primarily affects Vmware Vma. In total, 26 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2009-2848?

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

When was CVE-2009-2848 published?

CVE-2009-2848 was published on 2009-08-18 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

• http://article.gmane.org/gmane.linux.kernel/871942
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2009-11/msg00005.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2009-11/msg00007.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2010-02/msg00005.html
• http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2009-1243.html
• http://secunia.com/advisories/35983
• http://secunia.com/advisories/36501
• http://secunia.com/advisories/36562
• http://secunia.com/advisories/36759
• http://secunia.com/advisories/37105
• http://secunia.com/advisories/37351
• http://secunia.com/advisories/37471
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/08/04/2
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/08/05/10
• http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2009-1438.html
• http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/507985/100/0/threaded
• http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/512019/100/0/threaded
• http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-852-1
• http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2009-0016.html
• http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/3316
• https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/52899
• https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A11412
• https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A8598
• https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A9766
• https://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2009-1550.html
• https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2009-August/msg01256.html

Affected products (26)

• cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.30:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.30:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.30:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.30:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.30:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.30:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.30:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:novell:linux_desktop:9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:opensuse:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_desktop:10:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_server:9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_server:10:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:6.06:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:8.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:8.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:9.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:vmware:esx:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:vmware:vma:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Vmware Vma

• CVE-2012-2752 — High (CVSS 7.2): Untrusted search path vulnerability in VMware vMA 4.x and 5.x before 5.0.0.2 allows local users to gain privileges via…
• CVE-2009-0778 — High (CVSS 7.1): The icmp_send function in net/ipv4/icmp.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.25, when configured as a router with a REJECT…
• CVE-2009-3547 — High (CVSS 7.0): Multiple race conditions in fs/pipe.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.32-rc6 allow local users to cause a denial of…
• CVE-2009-2416 — Medium (CVSS 6.5): Multiple use-after-free vulnerabilities in libxml2 2.5.10, 2.6.16, 2.6.26, 2.6.27, and 2.6.32, and libxml 1.8.17, allow…
• CVE-2009-3621 — Medium (CVSS 5.5): net/unix/af_unix.c in the Linux kernel 2.6.31.4 and earlier allows local users to cause a denial of service (system…
• CVE-2009-1072 — Medium (CVSS 4.9): nfsd in the Linux kernel before 2.6.28.9 does not drop the CAP_MKNOD capability before handling a user request in a…

All CVEs affecting Vmware Vma →

Other CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management) vulnerabilities

• CVE-2026-31852 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Jellyfin is an open-source media system. The code-quality.yml GitHub Actions workflow in jellyfin/jellyfin-ios is…
• CVE-2025-20282 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): A vulnerability in an internal API of Cisco ISE and Cisco ISE-PIC could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to…
• CVE-2025-0505 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): On Arista CloudVision systems (virtual or physical on-premise deployments), Zero Touch Provisioning can be used to gain…
• CVE-2023-48418 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): In checkDebuggingDisallowed of DeviceVersionFragment.java, there is a     possible way to access adb before SUW…
• CVE-2023-48419 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): An attacker in the wifi vicinity of a target Google Home can spy on the victim, resulting in Elevation of Privilege
• CVE-2023-31273 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Protection mechanism failure in some Intel DCM software before version 5.2 may allow an unauthenticated user to…

Browse all CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management) vulnerabilities →