# CVE-2010-4073: Information disclosure in n/a

> Local attackers can read sensitive kernel stack memory due to uninitialized structures in the IPC subsystem.

- **Severity:** Low 1.9 (`AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:N/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:** 29 Nov 2010
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-rggc-q548-m285

## What is CVE-2010-4073?

CVE-2010-4073 is a low-severity vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 29 Nov 2010. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The ipc subsystem in the Linux kernel before 2.6.37-rc1 does not initialize certain structures, which allows local users to obtain potentially sensitive information from kernel stack memory via vectors related to the (1) compat_sys_semctl, (2) compat_sys_msgctl, and (3) compat_sys_shmctl functions in ipc/compat.c; and the (4) compat_sys_mq_open and (5) compat_sys_mq_getsetattr functions in ipc/compat_mq.c.

Weakness: CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2010-4073?

It affects 7 products.


Products: Debian Debian Linux, Linux kernel, Opensuse Opensuse, 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-2010-4073?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2010-4073 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2010-4073 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Linux Kernel < 2.6.36.2 (Ubuntu 10.04) - 'Half-Nelson.c' Econet Privilege Escalation (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux

- [CVE-2015-3306](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-3306/): ProFTPD Improper Access Control (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-49113](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-49113/): RoundCube Webmail Deserialization of Untrusted Data (critical 9.9, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-24061](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-24061/): GNU InetUtils Argument Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-39682](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-39682/): Linux Kernel Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-9680](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-9680/): Mozilla Firefox Use-After-Free (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2010-4073 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2010-4073 is a low-severity vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 29 Nov 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-2010-4073 exists.

Affected product: Debian Debian 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-2010-4073/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-4073/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2010-4073
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2010-4073
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2010-4073

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-4073/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.