What is CVE-2010-3904?A high-severity flaw criminals are using now.
CVE-2010-3904 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.8) in Linux kernel, published on 6 December 2010. It is on the list of flaws known to be exploited, so criminals are already using it. The latest forecast puts its chance of use in the next 30 days at 16%. If you run an affected version, patch it first.
Published 6 December 2010. Record last updated 11 April 2025. We keep this page's data up to date.
What is CVE-2010-3904? In plain terms.
An attacker has to be already on the device with an ordinary user account, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline.
The rds_page_copy_user function in net/rds/page.c in the Reliable Datagram Sockets (RDS) protocol implementation in the Linux kernel before 2.6.36 does not properly validate addresses obtained from user space, which allows local users to gain privileges via crafted use of the sendmsg and recvmsg system calls.
What kind of flaw is it?
- CWE-1284Improper Validation of Specified Quantity in Input
How an attack on it works
Read straight from its severity rating, translated out of the shorthand.
- Where an attacker can beAlready on the device
- How hard it is to pull offEasy: no special conditions
- Login needed firstAn ordinary user account
- Does someone have to clickNo, nobody has to do anything
- What an attacker getsCan read data, change data and take it offline
Severity vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Is CVE-2010-3904 being exploited? Yes.
Attackers are already using it. It is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited, and the latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 16%.
Timeline
- Published
- Record last updated
CVE-2010-3904 scores 75. Action: Emergency patch.
We keep the score of every published flaw up to date as the evidence changes. Four things go into the score, and evidence that criminals are actually using it counts most. In order:
- Evidence it is being exploitedBiggest factor
- How severe it isStrong factor
- How widely exposed it isSmaller factor
- Threat activity around itSmaller factor
85 and above is Critical. Anything confirmed as exploited is always marked for an emergency patch, whatever its score.
When CVE-2010-3904 matches software you track, it lands in your list with its score and the reasons behind it.
See your own ranked list →Who is affected by CVE-2010-3904? 8 products.
The published record lists 8 products from 6 vendors. Versions are shown as published: "before 2.6.36" means every version up to, but not including, 2.6.36. If you run one of these, check your version, then go to the fix below.
- Operating system
Linux kernel
by Linux
Affected versionsbefore 2.6.36 - Operating system
Ubuntu Linux
by Canonical
Affected versions6.068.049.049.1010.0410.10 - Operating system
ESXi
by VMware
Affected versions3.54.04.15.0 - Operating system
Enterprise Linux
by Red Hat
Affected versions5.06.0 - Operating system
Opensuse
by Opensuse
Affected versions11.211.3 - Operating system
Linux Enterprise Desktop
by Suse
Affected versions11-sp1 - Operating system
Linux Enterprise Real Time Extension
by Suse
Affected versions11-sp1 - Operating system
Linux Enterprise Server
by Suse
Affected versions11-sp1
How do I fix CVE-2010-3904? Four steps.
- Check whether you run itCompare your versions with the affected products above. Not sure what you run? Precursor Intelligence can work it out from your public website, or you can pick it from a list.
- Apply the vendor’s fixInstall the update named in the vendor’s advisory. We’ve put the advisory first in the list.
- If you can’t patch todayFollow any mitigation the vendor publishes, and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet until the update is in.
- Check it wasn’t used before you patchedBecause criminals are already using this flaw, look for signs of a break-in on affected systems using the vendor’s guidance.
References
19 links- Show Bug.cgi (opens in a new tab)redhat.com
- Web page (opens in a new tab)kernel.org
- Msg00008 (opens in a new tab)opensuse.org · 2010
- Msg00004 (opens in a new tab)opensuse.org · 2010
- Msg00000 (opens in a new tab)opensuse.org · 2011
- vReliable Datagram Sockets RDS Rds Page Copy User Privilege Escalation (opens in a new tab)packetstormsecurity.com
Does CVE-2010-3904 affect you? We'll keep checking.
Looking flaws up one at a time doesn't scale. Tell us what you run once, and we tell you which flaws matter to you, in what order, and keep watching for new ones.
- Tell us what you runPick your software from a list, or let us work it out from your website.
- We match it to every flawOver 400,000 published flaws, checked against your list.
- Ranked by real-world riskA 0 to 100 score, led by evidence criminals are using it.
- Told as soon as we knowAn alert by email, in the app or by webhook to your own tools.
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1 flaw being exploited affects software Acme tracks
The rds_page_copy_user function in net/rds/page.c in the Reliable Datagram Sockets (RDS) protocol implementation in the Linux kernel before 2.6.36 does not p...
- Matched to
- Linux kernel on Acme's software list
- What to do
- Patch first, then check for signs of use
Sent to the alert recipients Acme chose. Also in the app and to Acme's webhook.
CVE-2010-3904 is a high-severity flaw in Linux kernel, published on 6 December 2010. An attacker has to be already on the device with an ordinary user account, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline.
It scores 7.8 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is high. Our risk score for CVE-2010-3904 is 75 out of 100, which is High. Its action is "Emergency patch". Attackers are using this flaw today. If you run an affected version, it goes to the top of your list.
Attackers are already using it. It is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited, and the latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 16%.
For Linux kernel: before 2.6.36. The record lists 8 products in all, each with its versions, under "Who is affected" on this page.
Install the update the vendor names in its advisory, linked first under "How do I fix" on this page. If you can't patch today, follow the vendor's mitigation and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet. Because criminals are already using it, also check affected systems for signs of a break-in.