CVE-2009-4146 json
The _rtld function in the Run-Time Link-Editor (rtld) in libexec/rtld-elf/rtld.c in FreeBSD 7.1, 7.2, and 8.0 does not clear the LD_PRELOAD…
published 2009-12-02 16 y ago modified 2026-06-16 4 mo ago also EUVD-2009-4116
- cvss
- 7.2
- version 2.0, NVD
- cisa kev
- Not listed
- not in CISA's catalog
- epss
- 3.9%
- EPSS 3.9% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 90%
- public exploits
- 2
- Metasploit, Exploit-DB
Summary
The _rtld function in the Run-Time Link-Editor (rtld) in libexec/rtld-elf/rtld.c in FreeBSD 7.1, 7.2, and 8.0 does not clear the LD_PRELOAD environment variable, which allows local users to gain privileges by executing a setuid or setguid program with a modified LD_PRELOAD variable containing an untrusted search path that points to a Trojan horse library, a different vector than CVE-2009-4147.
Timeline
- First public exploit (Metasploit exploit/freebsd/local/rtld_execl_priv_esc)
- Published
Exploit prediction
3.90% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 90% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-08).
Exploits and checks
- Metasploit exploit/freebsd/local/rtld_execl_priv_esc FreeBSD rtld execl() Privilege Escalation metasploit exploit, excellent rank, 2009-11-30
- EDB-10255 FreeBSD 8.0 Run-Time Link-Editor (RTLD) - Local Privilege Escalation local, 2009-11-30
- securityfocus.com http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/37154 referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified
- people.freebsd.org http://people.freebsd.org/~cperciva/rtld.patch referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified
CVSS scores
| assigned by | version | score | vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVD | 2.0 | 7.2 | AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C |
Classification
- Weakness
-
- CWE-264 Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls
References
-
securityfocus.com
/bid/37154
vdb-entry, exploit
-
people.freebsd.org
/~cperciva/rtld.patch
exploit
-
secunia.com
/advisories/37517
third-party-advisory, vendor-advisory
-
securityfocus.com
/archive/1/508146/100/0/threaded
mailing-list
-
securityfocus.com
/archive/1/508142/100/0/threaded
mailing-list
-
securitytracker.com
/id?1023250
vdb-entry
-
securityfocus.com
/archive/1/508168/100/0/threaded
mailing-list
- packetstormsecurity.com /files/152997/FreeBSD-rtld-execl-Privilege-Escalation.html
Sources
- CVE List CVE-2009-4146
- NVD CVE-2009-4146
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