CISA KEV catalog
Confirmed active exploitation.
Listed in CISA's catalog of Known Exploited Vulnerabilities: attackers are using it in real attacks. Patch it with priority.
- Name
- Linux Kernel Improper Privilege Management Vulnerability
- Added to catalog
- Remediation due date (US federal)
- Required action
- Apply updates per vendor instructions.
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.
Affected products
linux: linux kernel; debian: debian linux; fedoraproject: fedora; canonical: ubuntu linux; redhat: enterprise linux; redhat: enterprise linux for arm 64; redhat: enterprise linux for ibm z systems; redhat: enterprise linux for real time; redhat: enterprise linux for real time for nfv; redhat: enterprise linux for real time for nfv tus; redhat: enterprise linux for real time tus; netapp: aff a700s firmware; netapp: aff a700s; netapp: h410c firmware; netapp: h410c
References10
- cdn.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v5.x/ChangeLog-5.1.17 PatchVendor Advisory
- git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/… PatchVendor Advisory
- cdn.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v5.x/ChangeLog-5.1.17 PatchVendor Advisory
- git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/… PatchVendor Advisory
- bugs.chromium.org/p/project-zero/issues/detail?id=1903 ExploitIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1730895 Issue TrackingPatch
- bugzilla.suse.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1140671 Issue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory
- github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/6994eefb0053799d2e07cd140df6c2… Patch
- bugs.chromium.org/p/project-zero/issues/detail?id=1903 ExploitIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1730895 Issue TrackingPatch
Metrics
- CVSS 3.1
-
7.8
HIGH
Score source: NVD
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - EPSS — exploit probability
- 52% percentile: 99 · as of 10 November 2026
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