What is CVE-2009-1338?

CVE-2009-1338 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 4.6 out of 10, classified as a Permissions, Privileges and Access Control flaw (CWE-264). CVE-2009-1338 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2009-1338?

CVE-2009-1338 has a CVSS score of 4.6 out of 10, rated Medium severity. The vector string is AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P.

Is there a patch available for CVE-2009-1338?

No patch is currently available for CVE-2009-1338. Monitor the NIST NVD and your Linux distribution's security advisories for updates.

Is CVE-2009-1338 actively exploited?

CVE-2009-1338 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is Permissions, Privileges and Access Control (CWE-264)?

Weaknesses in this category are related to the management of permissions, privileges, and access controls. See MITRE CWE for full details: https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/264.html

CVE-2009-1338

Medium

The kill_something_info function in kernel/signal.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.28 does not consider PID namespaces when processing signals directed to PID -1, which allows local users to bypass the intended namespace isolation, and send arbitrary signals to all processes in all namespaces, via a kill command.

Package Linux Kernel

Published 2009-04-22

Last modified 2026-04-23

CVSS version 2.0

Patch available

Awaiting data

CVSS 2.0 score

4.6

out of 10

Medium

Attack Vector

Local

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

User Interaction

Scope

Confidentiality

Low

Integrity

Availability

Vector string

AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

Weakness type

CWE-264

CVE-2009-1338 is a Permissions, Privileges and Access Control vulnerability

What is Permissions, Privileges and Access Control?

Weaknesses in this category are related to the management of permissions, privileges, and access controls. Learn more on MITRE CWE

References

The following references provide additional information about CVE-2009-1338 including vendor advisories, patch commits, exploit details, and third-party analysis. Links are sourced from the NIST NVD database.

Secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/34981
Secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/35120
Secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/35121
Secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/35343
Secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/35656
Wiki
http://wiki.rpath.com/Advisories:rPSA-2009-0084
Debian Security
http://www.debian.org/security/2009/dsa-1787
Debian Security
http://www.debian.org/security/2009/dsa-1800
Openwall
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/04/16/2
Openwall
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/04/17/4
Openwall
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/04/21/1
Red Hat
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2009-1081.html
Securityfocus
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/503610/100/0/threaded
Ubuntu Security
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/usn-793-1
Exchange
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/50386
Kernel patch commit
http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=d25141a818383b3c3b09f065698c544a7a0ec6e7
Patch
Kernel patch commit
http://lkml.org/lkml/2008/7/23/148
Patch
Kernel patch commit
http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.28
Patch

4 patch commits total View all on NVD

Details

CVE ID CVE-2009-1338

Severity Medium

CVSS score 4.6 / 10

CVSS version 2.0

Published 2009-04-22

Modified 2026-04-23

KEV No

Patch Awaiting data

Package linux

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2009-1338?

CVE-2009-1338 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 4.6 out of 10 , classified as a Permissions, Privileges and Access Control flaw (CWE-264) . CVE-2009-1338 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
What is the CVSS score for CVE-2009-1338?

CVE-2009-1338 has a CVSS score of 4.6 out of 10, rated Medium severity (CVSS 2.0). The vector string is AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P.
Is there a patch available for CVE-2009-1338?

No patch is currently available for CVE-2009-1338. Monitor the NIST NVD and your Linux distribution's security advisories for updates.
Is CVE-2009-1338 actively exploited?

No — CVE-2009-1338 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.
What is Permissions, Privileges and Access Control (CWE-264)?

Weaknesses in this category are related to the management of permissions, privileges, and access controls. View CWE-264 on MITRE CWE →