CVE-2010-3856

CVE-2010-3856 is a high-severity vulnerability in Gnu Glibc with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.2. 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-264.

Key facts

• Severity: High (CVSS 2.0 base score 7.2)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 9% (95th percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-264
• Affected product: Gnu Glibc
• Published: 2011-01-07
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

ld.so in the GNU C Library (aka glibc or libc6) before 2.11.3, and 2.12.x before 2.12.2, does not properly restrict use of the LD_AUDIT environment variable to reference dynamic shared objects (DSOs) as audit objects, which allows local users to gain privileges by leveraging an unsafe DSO located in a trusted library directory, as demonstrated by libpcprofile.so.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2010-3856?

ld.so in the GNU C Library (aka glibc or libc6) before 2.11.3, and 2.12.x before 2.12.2, does not properly restrict use of the LD_AUDIT environment variable to reference dynamic shared objects (DSOs) as audit objects, which allows local users to gain privileges by leveraging an unsafe DSO located in a trusted library directory, as demonstrated by libpcprofile.so.

How severe is CVE-2010-3856?

CVE-2010-3856 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.2, rated high severity.

Is CVE-2010-3856 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 9% (95th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2010-3856?

CVE-2010-3856 primarily affects Gnu Glibc. In total, 55 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2010-3856?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2010-3856 published?

CVE-2010-3856 was published on 2011-01-07 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

• http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/153278/WAGO-852-Industrial-Managed-Switch-Series-Code-Execution-Hardcoded-Credentials.html
• http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/173661/OpenSSH-Forwarded-SSH-Agent-Remote-Code-Execution.html
• http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2010/Oct/344
• http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2019/Jun/18
• http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2023/Jul/31
• http://secunia.com/advisories/42787
• http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-201011-01.xml
• http://sourceware.org/ml/libc-hacker/2010-10/msg00010.html
• http://support.avaya.com/css/P8/documents/100121017
• http://www.debian.org/security/2010/dsa-2122
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2010:212
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/07/19/9
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/07/20/1
• http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2010-0872.html
• http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/515545/100/0/threaded
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/44347
• http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1009-1
• http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2011-0001.html
• http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0025
• https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=645672
• https://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2010-10/msg00007.html
• https://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2010-0793.html
• https://seclists.org/bugtraq/2019/Jun/14
• https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/44025/

Affected products (55)

• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:1.00:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:1.01:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:1.02:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:1.03:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:1.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:1.05:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:1.06:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:1.07:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:1.08:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:1.09:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:1.09.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.0.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.0.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.1.1.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.1.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.1.3.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.1.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.2.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.2.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.2.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.2.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.3.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.3.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.3.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.3.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.3.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.3.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.3.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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