Linux Kernel Race Condition Vulnerability
Linux · Kernel
CVSS 7
EPSS 83%
5 public exploits
Fix deadline passed 24 March 2022
What it is
Race condition in mm/gup.c in the Linux kernel allows local users to escalate privileges.
Why we say that
- EPSS puts exploitation in the next 30 days at 83%
- 5 public exploits published
- CISA's federal remediation deadline (2022-03-24) has passed
- Listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue
Every line above comes from a named public source. Where the evidence is thin, we say so rather than inventing confidence — see methodology.
What to do
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Public exploit code
Indexed from Exploit-DB. Presence of code raises urgency; absence does not mean safety.
- Linux Kernel 2.6.22 < 3.9 - 'Dirty COW' 'PTRACE_POKEDATA' Race Condition Privilege Escalation (/etc/passwd Method)
- Linux Kernel 2.6.22 < 3.9 - 'Dirty COW /proc/self/mem' Race Condition Privilege Escalation (/etc/passwd Method)
- Linux Kernel 2.6.22 < 3.9 - 'Dirty COW PTRACE_POKEDATA' Race Condition (Write Access Method)
- Linux Kernel 2.6.22 < 3.9 (x86/x64) - 'Dirty COW /proc/self/mem' Race Condition Privilege Escalation (SUID Method)
- Linux Kernel 2.6.22 < 3.9 - 'Dirty COW' /proc/self/mem Race Condition (Write Access Method)
What it costs when this goes wrong
This is where UK enforcement meets the vulnerability record. Where an unfixed vulnerability leads to a breach, the ICO treats it as a security failure under UK GDPR. Recent cases:
- The Electoral Commission Reprimand issued to the Electoral Commission in respect of Articles 5(1)(f) and 32(1)(b). Between 24 August 2021 and 27 October 20…
- Gain Capital UK Limited Gain Capital UK have been issued a Reprimand in respect of Articles 32 (2) and 32 (1) (b). An unauthorised third party leveraged a…
- Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment An unauthorised third party exploited a known vulnerability in the Sitefinity software to leverage a bruteforce attack to upload a…