# CVE-2010-3850: Missing authorization in n/a

> Local users can bypass access restrictions to configure econet addresses due to missing capability checks in the Linux kernel.

- **Severity:** Low 2.1 (`AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N`)
- **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:** 30 Dec 2010
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-x5q7-74fg-9cp7

## What is CVE-2010-3850?

CVE-2010-3850 is a low-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 30 Dec 2010. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The ec_dev_ioctl function in net/econet/af_econet.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.36.2 does not require the CAP_NET_ADMIN capability, which allows local users to bypass intended access restrictions and configure econet addresses via an SIOCSIFADDR ioctl call.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2010-3850?

It affects 7 products.


Products: Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Debian Debian Linux, Linux kernel, Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop, Suse Linux Enterprise Real Time Extension, Suse Linux Enterprise Server, Suse Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit.

## How do I fix CVE-2010-3850?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2010-3850 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2010-3850 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Linux Kernel 2.6.37 (RedHat / Ubuntu 10.04) - 'Full-Nelson.c' Local Privilege Escalation (exploitdb)
- Linux Kernel < 2.6.36.2 (Ubuntu 10.04) - 'Half-Nelson.c' Econet Privilege Escalation (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Canonical Ubuntu Linux

- [CVE-2020-11651](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11651/): SaltStack Salt Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-7247](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7247/): OpenSMTPD Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-16928](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16928/): Exim Out-of-bounds Write (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2018-6789](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6789/): Exim Buffer Overflow (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2015-2590](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-2590/): Oracle Java SE and Java SE Embedded Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2010-3850 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2010-3850 is a low-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 30 Dec 2010. 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-2010-3850 exists.

Affected product: Canonical Ubuntu 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-2010-3850/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-3850/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2010-3850
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2010-3850
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2010-3850

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-3850/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.