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Description

In the Linux kernel before 5.1.17, ptrace_link in kernel/ptrace.c mishandles the recording of the credentials of a process that wants to create a ptrace relationship, which allows local users to obtain root access by leveraging certain scenarios with a parent-child process relationship, where a parent drops privileges and calls execve (potentially allowing control by an attacker). One contributing factor is an object lifetime issue (which can also cause a panic). Another contributing factor is incorrect marking of a ptrace relationship as privileged, which is exploitable through (for example) Polkit's pkexec helper with PTRACE_TRACEME. NOTE: SELinux deny_ptrace might be a usable workaround in some environments.

CVSS Vector Breakdown

AV:LAC:LPR:LUI:NS:UC:HI:HA:H
Exploitability
AV:LAttack Vector
Local
AC:LAttack Complexity
Low
PR:LPrivileges Required
Low
UI:NUser Interaction
None
Scope
S:UScope
Unchanged
Impact
C:HConfidentiality
High
I:HIntegrity
High
A:HAvailability
High

Weaknesses

Affected Products

red hat inc.commercialUSOperating Systemsaka red hat
canonical ltd.commercialGBOperating Systemsaka canonical
сообщество свободного программного обеспеченияoss-projectOperating Systemsaka сообщество свободного программного обеспечения, fsf
fedora projectoss-projectUSOperating Systemsaka fedora
and 25 more affected products View all →

Exploitability

CISA Known Exploited Vulnerability
Added to KEV:Dec 10, 2021
Remediation due:Jun 10, 2022

Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

12 exploit sources identified

Exploit details including PoC links, Metasploit modules, and scanner templates are available after registration.

View exploit details
Official Patch Available

References

and 76 more references View all →

Timeline

Published
Jul 17, 2019
Added to CISA KEV
Dec 10, 2021
Last Updated
Nov 6, 2025

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