CVE-2019-13272: Linux Kernel Improper Privilege Management Vulnerability

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2019-13272 is a high (CVSS 7.8) vulnerability in Linux Kernel. It is known to be exploited: CISA lists it, first on 10-12-2021. EPSS estimates a 52.20% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 98.9% of scored vulnerabilities. 10 public exploits are recorded.

Timeline

1. 17-07-2019
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 10-12-2021
   Added to CISA KEVExploitedLinux Kernel Improper Privilege Management Vulnerability
3. 10-06-2022
   CISA remediation dueDeadline passedApply updates per vendor instructions.
4. 21-10-2025
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

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.

No weakness data has been published for this record.