CVE-2005-0178: Race condition in the setsid function in Linux before 2.6.8.1 allows local users to cause a denial of service

Routine

MEDIUM 6.2WATCHLISTDOWNGRADEDOWNGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2005-0178 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 6.2) affecting linux netkit, linux-vserver, linux kernel. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Race condition in the setsid function in Linux before 2.6.8.1 allows local users to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly access portions of kernel memory, related to TTY changes, locking, and semaphores.

Why this priority

On your watchlist

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	6.2 (Medium)
EPSS exploit chance	0.4% (top 70%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2005-03-07
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: linux · netkit · vserver

Last updated 2026-06-16 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2005-03-07 05:00 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 22:10 UTCUpdated Record last modified

netkit linux netkit DOWNGRADE

Affected: 0.17 · 0.17.17

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 0.17

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy linux-netkit || rpm -q linux-netkit || linux-netkit --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 0.17 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison linux-netkit sudo apt install linux-netkit=<VERSION_BEFORE_0.17> sudo apt-mark hold linux-netkit

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list linux-netkit sudo dnf downgrade linux-netkit-<VERSION_BEFORE_0.17> sudo dnf versionlock add linux-netkit

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

vserver linux-vserver DOWNGRADE

Affected: 1.20 · 1.21 · 1.22 · 1.23 · 1.24

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.20

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy linux-vserver || rpm -q linux-vserver || linux-vserver --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.20 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison linux-vserver sudo apt install linux-vserver=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.20> sudo apt-mark hold linux-vserver

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list linux-vserver sudo dnf downgrade linux-vserver-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.20> sudo dnf versionlock add linux-vserver

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

linux linux kernel MITIGATE

Affected: 2.0 · 2.0.1 · 2.0.2 · 2.0.3 · 2.0.4 · 2.0.5 · 2.0.6 · 2.0.7

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Downgrade not recommended

This is a core system component: downgrading can break the OS. Apply the distro update or the vendor mitigation.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2005-0178?

linux netkit: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; linux-vserver: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; linux kernel: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2005-0178 being exploited?

CVE-2005-0178 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2005-0178 affect?

CVE-2005-0178 affects linux netkit, linux-vserver, linux kernel. Severity is medium (CVSS 6.2). Race condition in the setsid function in Linux before 2.6.8.1 allows local users to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly access portions of kernel memory, related to TTY changes, locking, and semaphores.

How urgent is CVE-2005-0178?

Priority 34/100. On your watchlist

Software pages

Linux kernel vulnerabilities

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References

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