Intelligence online17 sources monitored8 actively exploited 7d26 published 24hChecked recently
Vulnerability record

CVE-2019-13272

Linux Kernel Improper Privilege Management Vulnerability

HighExploitation confirmedCISA KEV
What should I do?

This vulnerability is in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog: attackers are using it. If you run Linux, fix it now.

CISA required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

US federal civilian agencies must remediate by Jun 10, 2022.

Patch status

Official fix available since

Apply the vendor's update to every affected system. Check the fixed-in versions below where known.

Basis: NVD patch reference

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.

Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database. Official vulnerability data, reproduced as published.

Affected products

ProductVendorAffected versionsFixed inSource
LinuxLinux>= 3.16.52, < 3.16.71; >= 4.1.39, < 4.2; >= 4.4.40, < 4.4.185; >= 4.8.16, < 4.9; >= 4.9.1, < 4.9.185; >= 4.10, < 4.14.1333.16.71; 4.2; 4.4.185; 4.9; 4.9.185; 4.14.133KEV

Sources: KEV = CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

Intelligence timeline

Developments from the last 30 days, newest first.

  1. CVSS scoredUpdateKEV

    CVE-2019-13272 scored CVSS 7.8: Linux Kernel, Linux Kernel Improper Privilege Management Vulnerability

    CISA lists this as exploited in the wild. Unpatched Kernel systems are exposed to active attacks now.

    Basis: NIST National Vulnerability Database

  2. Patch releasedUpdateKEV

    Patch released for CVE-2019-13272: Linux Kernel, Linux Kernel Improper Privilege Management Vulnerability

    An official fix is now available for Linux Kernel. This vulnerability is being exploited, so apply it promptly.

    Basis: NVD patch reference

1 earlier event is available with a subscription. See plans.

Coverage

We have not published a story about this vulnerability yet.

References