Use-after-free vulnerability in the fasync_helper function in fs/fcntl.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.33-rc4-git1 allows local users to gain privileges via vectors that include enabling O_ASYNC (aka FASYNC or FIOASYNC) on a locked file, and then closing this file.
CVE-2009-4141
This CVE was only ever scored under CVSS v2.0. NVD CVSS v2.0 base 7.2 — v2 rates that HIGH (v2 bands: LOW 0.0–3.9 / MEDIUM 4.0–6.9 / HIGH 7.0–10.0; v2 has no CRITICAL band). Vector AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C. CVSS v2 is an older, coarser metric than v3.1/v4.0 (no Scope, no User Interaction, no Attack Requirements), so it is not directly comparable to a v3 or v4 score. NVD has never re-scored this record under v3. EPSS predicts 1.0% exploitation probability in the next 30 days, which is reflected in EG Risk but does not lift the v2 base. Confidence: LOW.
- Public exploit code is available (Exploit-DB (verified), public exploit)
A fix is available — apply it.
- CVSS v2.0 (legacy)
- 7.2HIGHNVD never assigned a CVSS v3 rating to this CVE
- EG Score
- 7.2(low)
- EG Risk
- 63(Track)EG Risk 63/100SSVC: Track
EG Risk is EchelonGraph's 0–100 priority score: it fuses intrinsic severity with real-world exploitation and automatability so you can rank equal-severity CVEs and fix the most dangerous first. Higher = act sooner. Distinct from the 0–10 EG Score (severity).
How it’s computedSeverity72% × 45%Exploitation65% × 40%Automatability30% × 15%Action: Routine — remediate on your standard cadence. - EPSS PROB
- 1%
- EPSS %ILE
- 59%
- KEV
- Not listed
Published
January 19, 2010
Last Modified
April 23, 2026
References (32)
- secalert@redhathttp://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/fulldisclosure/2010-01/0252.html
- secalert@redhathttp://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=53281b6d34d44308372d16acb7fb5327609f68b6
- secalert@redhathttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2010-02/msg00002.html
- secalert@redhathttp://lock.cmpxchg8b.com/5ebe2294ecd0e0f08eab7690d2a6ee69/create_elf_tables.c
- secalert@redhathttp://secunia.com/advisories/38199
- secalert@redhathttp://secunia.com/advisories/39033
- secalert@redhathttp://support.avaya.com/css/P8/documents/100073666
- secalert@redhathttp://twitter.com/taviso/statuses/7744108017
- secalert@redhathttp://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/snapshots/patch-2.6.33-rc4-git1.bz2
- secalert@redhathttp://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2010-0161.html
- secalert@redhathttp://www.securityfocus.com/bid/37806
- secalert@redhathttps://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=547906
- secalert@redhathttps://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A7054
- secalert@redhathttps://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A9201
- secalert@redhathttps://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2010-0046.html
Vendor Advisories for CVE-2009-4141(3)
These vendors published their own advisory mentioning this CVE — often with vendor-specific remediation steps + affected product lists not in NVD.
- RHSA-2010:0161Red Hat Product SecurityHigh
Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security and bug fix update
- RHSA-2010:0149Red Hat Product SecurityHigh
Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update
- RHSA-2010:0046Red Hat Product SecurityHigh
Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security and bug fix update
Patch Availability(4)
| Vendor / Ecosystem | Fixed in / Patch | Released | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ubuntu | linux-image-2.6.31-19-ia64 (2.6.31-19.56) @ karmic | 2026-05-29 | ubuntu |
| redhat | kernel-rt-0:2.6.24.7-149.el5rt | 2010-03-23 | redhat |
| redhat | kernel-0:2.6.18-128.14.1.el5 | 2010-03-17 | redhat |
| redhat | kernel-0:2.6.18-164.11.1.el5 | 2010-01-19 | redhat |
Patches are aggregated from vendor advisories (Red Hat, Microsoft, Cisco, GitHub) and package ecosystems (OSV, GHSA). Multiple rows for the same upstream release have been deduplicated.
Additional Vendor Advisories
(1)
Vendors that published advisories for this CVE beyond the curated set above. Broader coverage but minimal per-row detail — click through for the original advisory.
Data Freshness Timeline
(refreshed 12× in last 7d / 36× in last 30d)
Each row is a source pipeline that fetched or updated this CVE on that date, with what changed. For example, "NVD update" means NVD published or revised its analysis for this CVE; "MITRE cvelistV5" means we ingested or refreshed it from the CNA feed. Most recent first.
Showing the most recent 100 of 104 total refreshes for this CVE.
- 2026-07-26 13:39 UTCEG score recompute▲ 7.20
- 2026-07-25 14:12 UTCEPSS rescore
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- 2026-07-23 01:00 UTCEG score recompute
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- 2026-07-22 21:43 UTCEG score recompute
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- 2026-05-29 13:00 UTCVendor advisory
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Publicly available exploits
(1 reference)Working exploit code is in the public domain (1 Exploit-DB entry). Defenders should treat patch urgency accordingly — public PoCs typically lead to mass-exploitation within 24-72 hours.
- Exploit-DBEDB-33523✓ verifiedFirst seen Dec 16, 2009
Linux Kernel < 2.6.28 - 'fasync_helper()' Local Privilege Escalation
Open source ↗
Frequently asked(4)
What is CVE-2009-4141?
When was CVE-2009-4141 disclosed?
Is CVE-2009-4141 actively exploited?
How do I remediate CVE-2009-4141?
Dependency Blast Radius
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