The do_fork function in Linux 2.4.x before 2.4.26, and 2.6.x before 2.6.6, does not properly decrement the mm_count counter when an error…

Description

The do_fork function in Linux 2.4.x before 2.4.26, and 2.6.x before 2.6.6, does not properly decrement the mm_count counter when an error occurs after the mm_struct for a child process has been activated, which triggers a memory leak that allows local users to cause a denial of service (memory exhaustion) via the clone (CLONE_VM) system call.

Scores

EPSS (exploitation in 30 days)

0.47% · top 59% of all CVEs (3 Nov 2026)

The list uses the assigner's score when there is one, then CISA's, then NVD's: Low 2.1.

Weakness

• n/a
• CWE-401 (opens in a new tab)All about CWE-401 and its CVEs

Affected products

• n/a

  • affected n/a

References (32)

• 20163 (opens in a new tab)third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAx_transferred
• RHSA-2004:327 (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_refsource_REDHATx_transferred
• 11464 (opens in a new tab)third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAx_transferred
• http://linux.bkbits.net:8080/linux-2.6/cset%40407b1217x4jtqEkpFW2g_-RcF0726A (opens in a new tab)x_refsource_MISCx_transferred
• linux-dofork-memory-leak(16002) (opens in a new tab)vdb-entryx_refsource_XFx_transferred
• DSA-1082 (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_refsource_DEBIANx_transferred
• RHSA-2004:255 (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_refsource_REDHATx_transferred
• FEDORA-2004-111 (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_refsource_FEDORAx_transferred
• 11861 (opens in a new tab)third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAx_transferred
• [linux-kernel] 20040408 [PATCH]: 2.4/2.6 do_fork() error path memory leak (opens in a new tab)mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTx_transferred
• RHSA-2004:260 (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_refsource_REDHATx_transferred
• SuSE-SA:2004:010 (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_refsource_SUSEx_transferred
• DSA-1070 (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_refsource_DEBIANx_transferred
• oval:org.mitre.oval:def:10297 (opens in a new tab)vdb-entrysignaturex_refsource_OVALx_transferred
• 20162 (opens in a new tab)third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAx_transferred
• MDKSA-2004:037 (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_refsource_MANDRAKEx_transferred
• 11891 (opens in a new tab)third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAx_transferred
• 11486 (opens in a new tab)third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAx_transferred
• TLSA-2004-14 (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_refsource_TURBOx_transferred
• 11541 (opens in a new tab)third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAx_transferred
• http://linux.bkbits.net:8080/linux-2.4/cset%40407bf20eDeeejm8t36_tpvSE-8EFHA (opens in a new tab)x_refsource_MISCx_transferred
• DSA-1067 (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_refsource_DEBIANx_transferred
• CLA-2004:846 (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_refsource_CONECTIVAx_transferred
• 10221 (opens in a new tab)vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDx_transferred
• DSA-1069 (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_refsource_DEBIANx_transferred
• 11429 (opens in a new tab)third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAx_transferred
• oval:org.mitre.oval:def:2819 (opens in a new tab)vdb-entrysignaturex_refsource_OVALx_transferred
• O-164 (opens in a new tab)third-party-advisorygovernment-resourcex_refsource_CIACx_transferred
• 20202 (opens in a new tab)third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAx_transferred
• GLSA-200407-02 (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_refsource_GENTOOx_transferred
• 11892 (opens in a new tab)third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAx_transferred
• 20338 (opens in a new tab)third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAx_transferred

Sources

The same CVE in the primary databases and aggregators, to check against.

• CVE.org record (opens in a new tab)
• CVE List JSON (GitHub) (opens in a new tab)
• NVD (opens in a new tab)
• FIRST EPSS (opens in a new tab)
• OSV.dev (opens in a new tab)
• GitHub Advisories (opens in a new tab)
• CIRCL Vulnerability-Lookup (opens in a new tab)

Badge for a README or a ticket

[![CVE-2004-0427](https://trackcve.app/badge/CVE-2004-0427.svg)](https://trackcve.app/cve/CVE-2004-0427)

Record last updated 8 Aug 2024, 00:17 UTC.