CVE-2003-0476: The execve system call in Linux 2.4.x records the file descriptor of the executable process in the file tab...

Security readout for executives and security teams

This is an old Linux kernel issue in the 2.4.x line. A local user could gain read access to restricted file descriptors during execve handling. It is not described as remotely exploitable, but it matters on legacy multi-user systems where local accounts or workloads are not fully trusted. Exposure is most likely on systems still running Linux 2.4.x kernels or vendor-maintained kernels from that era. Modern mainstream Linux deployments are unlikely candidates, but legacy appliances, unsupported servers, or frozen embedded environments should be checked by kernel version and vendor advisory status. Treat this as a legacy hygiene issue, not a broad emergency. Prioritize remediation if any business-critical system still runs Linux 2.4.x with local user access. Unsupported legacy systems should be scheduled for replacement or isolation. Mitigation focus: Identify any remaining Linux 2.4.x systems or vendor kernels from that period.; Review the listed Red Hat, Debian, and Mandrake advisories for applicable kernel updates.; Apply vendor-supported kernel updates where available..

Prepared

Jun 30, 2026, 10:00 UTC (UTC+00:00)

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.