# CVE-2004-1235: Race condition in n/a

> Local attackers can exploit a race condition in the Linux kernel's uselib function to execute arbitrary code and escalate privileges.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.2 (`AV:L/AC:H/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 20 Jan 2005
- **Updated:** 8 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-pxmj-v2v3-474h

## What is CVE-2004-1235?

CVE-2004-1235 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Conectiva Linux, published on 20 Jan 2005. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Race condition in the (1) load_elf_library and (2) binfmt_aout function calls for uselib in Linux kernel 2.4 through 2.429-rc2 and 2.6 through 2.6.10 allows local users to execute arbitrary code by manipulating the VMA descriptor.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2004-1235?

It affects 20 products.


Products: Avaya Converged Communications Server, Avaya Intuity Audix, Avaya Mn100, Avaya Modular Messaging Message Storage Server, Avaya Network Routing, Avaya S8300, Avaya S8500, Avaya S8700, Avaya S8710, Conectiva Linux, Linux kernel, Mandrakesoft Mandrake Linux, Mandrakesoft Mandrake Linux Corporate Server, Mandrakesoft Mandrake Multi Network Firewall, Redhat Enterprise Linux, Redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop, Redhat Fedora Core, Redhat Linux, Suse Suse Linux, Ubuntu Ubuntu Linux.

## How do I fix CVE-2004-1235?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2004-1235 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2004-1235 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Linux Kernel 2.4.29-rc2 - 'uselib()' Local Privilege Escalation (1) (exploitdb)
- Linux Kernel 2.4 - 'uselib()' Local Privilege Escalation (2) (exploitdb)
- Linux Kernel 2.4.x/2.6.x - 'uselib()' Local Privilege Escalation (3) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Conectiva Linux

- [CVE-2004-0495](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-0495/): Privilege escalation in n/a (high 7.2)
- [CVE-2004-0595](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-0595/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (medium 6.8)
- [CVE-2004-0594](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-0594/): Race condition in n/a (medium 5.1)
- [CVE-2005-0003](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-0003/): Memory corruption in n/a (low 2.1)
- [CVE-2004-0554](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-0554/): Denial of service in n/a (low 2.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2004-1235 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2004-1235 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Conectiva Linux, published on 20 Jan 2005. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2004-1235 exists.

Affected product: Conectiva Linux. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-1235/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-1235/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2004-1235
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2004-1235
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2004-1235

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-1235/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.