This is a kernel problem. See new versions of kernel (e.g 2.6.13) -- there's
spin lock for access to task->comm and routines don't use the task->comm field
directly, but there's API (set_task_comm() and get_task_comm()).

See: linux-2.4.21/fs/proc/array.c: proc_pid_stat() where is sprintf("%s",
task->comm).

Note: the kernel task_struct->comm race condition causes ps core dump, because
the ps command doesn't check for format of /proc/*/stat data. A possible
workaround could be detect and ignore processes with corrupted /proc/*/stat. But
I vote for real bug fix in RHEL3 kernel :-)

This is a dup of bug 138730, but I won't yet close it as such because
of current access restrictions.  A patch to fix this has been posted
for internal review and is expected to committed to the next U7 build.

Access restrictions on bug 138730 have now been lifted.

*** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of 138730 ***

A fix for this problem has just been committed to the RHEL3 U7
patch pool this evening (in kernel version 2.4.21-37.5.EL).

An advisory has been issued which should help the problem
described in this bug report. This report is therefore being
closed with a resolution of ERRATA. For more information
on the solution and/or where to find the updated files,
please follow the link below. You may reopen this bug report
if the solution does not work for you.

http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2006-0144.html