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 cre
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.
- BDU:2020-01891
- DLA-1862-1
- DLA-1863-1
- DSA-4484-1
- RHSA-2019:2405
- RHSA-2019:2411
- RHSA-2019:2809
- SUSE-SU-2019:2949-1
- SUSE-SU-2019:2984-1
- SUSE-SU-2019:3223-1
- SUSE-SU-2019:3224-1
- SUSE-SU-2019:3225-1
- SUSE-SU-2019:3228-1
- SUSE-SU-2019:3230-1
- SUSE-SU-2019:3232-1
- SUSE-SU-2019:3246-1
- SUSE-SU-2019:3247-1
- SUSE-SU-2019:3248-1
- SUSE-SU-2019:3249-1
- SUSE-SU-2019:3252-1
- Published
- Jul 17, 2019
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 52.2% · 99th percentile
- CWE
- —
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Report tools
Action score
77
This week
Don’t wait for the next maintenance window.
- CVSS
- 31 / 40 · 7.8 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 30 / 30 · Listed
- EPSS
- 16 / 30 · 52.2%
CISA SSVC decision
- Exploitation
- active
- Automatable
- no
- Technical impact
- total
Vulnrichment: CISA's decision-tree inputs.
Actively exploited in the wild
CISA added this to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Dec 10, 2021. That signals real attacks, not theory.
Remediation deadline for government agencies: Jun 10, 2022.
Affected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| linux | linux kernel | cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel |
| debian | debian linux | cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux |
| fedoraproject | fedora | cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora |
| canonical | ubuntu linux | cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux |
| redhat | enterprise linux | cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux |
| redhat | enterprise linux for arm 64 | cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_arm_64 |
| redhat | enterprise linux for ibm z systems | cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems |
| redhat | enterprise linux for real time | cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_real_time |
| redhat | enterprise linux for real time for nfv | cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_real_time_for_nfv |
| redhat | enterprise linux for real time for nfv tus | cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_real_time_for_nfv_tus |
| redhat | enterprise linux for real time tus | cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_real_time_tus |
| netapp | aff a700s firmware | cpe:2.3:o:netapp:aff_a700s_firmware |
and 13 more
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- canonical ubuntu linux16.04
- canonical ubuntu linux18.04
- canonical ubuntu linux19.04
- debian debian linux10.0
- debian debian linux8.0
- debian debian linux9.0
- fedoraproject fedora29
- linux linux kernel4.20 and later · before 5.1.17
- linux linux kernel3.16.52 and later · before 3.16.71
- linux linux kernel4.1.39 and later · before 4.2
- linux linux kernel4.4.40 and later · before 4.4.185
- linux linux kernel4.8.16 and later · before 4.9
- linux linux kernel4.9.1 and later · before 4.9.185
- linux linux kernel4.10 and later · before 4.14.133
- linux linux kernel4.15 and later · before 4.19.58
- netapp active iq unified managerall versions
- netapp aff a700s firmwareall versions
- netapp e-series performance analyzerall versions
- netapp e-series santricity os controller11.0.0 and later · up to 11.60.3 inclusive
- netapp h410c firmwareall versions
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:10 | linux | before 4.19.37-5+deb10u1 | 4.19.37-5+deb10u1 |
| Debian:12 | linux | before 4.19.37-6 | 4.19.37-6 |
| Debian:8 | linux | before 3.16.70-1 | 3.16.70-1 |
| Debian:8 | linux-4.9 | before 4.9.168-1+deb9u4~deb8u1 | 4.9.168-1+deb9u4~deb8u1 |
| Debian:9 | linux | before 4.9.168-1+deb9u4 | 4.9.168-1+deb9u4 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server | kernel | before 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a | 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server | kernel-abi-whitelists | before 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a | 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server | kernel-alt | before 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a | 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server | kernel-bootwrapper | before 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a | 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server | kernel-debug | before 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a | 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server | kernel-debug-debuginfo | before 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a | 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server | kernel-debug-devel | before 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a | 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server | kernel-debuginfo | before 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a | 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server | kernel-debuginfo-common-ppc64le | before 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a | 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server | kernel-devel | before 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a | 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server | kernel-doc | before 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a | 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server | kernel-headers | before 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a | 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server | kernel-tools | before 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a | 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server | kernel-tools-debuginfo | before 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a | 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server | kernel-tools-libs | before 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a | 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server | kernel-tools-libs-devel | before 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a | 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server | perf | before 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a | 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server | perf-debuginfo | before 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a | 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server | python-perf | before 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a | 0:4.14.0-115.12.1.el7a |
+86
Same product
linux: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
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- CVE-2021-22555Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACEKEV85Now
- CVE-2016-5195Race condition in mm/gup.c in the Linux kernel 2.x through 4.x before 4.8.3 allows local users to gain privileges by leveraging incorrect haKEV83Now
- CVE-2013-6282The (1) get_user and (2) put_user API functions in the Linux kernel before 3.5.5 on the v6k and v7 ARM platforms do not validate certain addKEV77This week
- CVE-2013-2094The perf_swevent_init function in kernel/events/core.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9 uses an incorrect integer data type, which allows loKEV77This week
- CVE-2014-3153The futex_requeue function in kernel/futex.c in the Linux kernel through 3.14.5 does not ensure that calls have two different futex addresseKEV72This week
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| debian:linux | 4.19.37-6 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| debian:linux-4.9 | 4.9.168-1+deb9u4~deb8u1 · Debian:8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel-rt | 0:4.18.0-80.7.2.rt9.154.el8_0 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::nfv | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel-rt-core | 0:4.18.0-80.7.2.rt9.154.el8_0 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::nfv | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel-rt-debug | 0:4.18.0-80.7.2.rt9.154.el8_0 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::nfv | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel-rt-debug-core | 0:4.18.0-80.7.2.rt9.154.el8_0 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::nfv | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel-rt-debug-debuginfo | 0:4.18.0-80.7.2.rt9.154.el8_0 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::nfv | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel-rt-debug-devel | 0:4.18.0-80.7.2.rt9.154.el8_0 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::nfv | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel-rt-debug-kvm | 0:4.18.0-80.7.2.rt9.154.el8_0 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::nfv | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel-rt-debug-kvm-debuginfo | 0:4.18.0-80.7.2.rt9.154.el8_0 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::nfv | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel-rt-debug-modules | 0:4.18.0-80.7.2.rt9.154.el8_0 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::nfv | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel-rt-debug-modules-extra | 0:4.18.0-80.7.2.rt9.154.el8_0 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::nfv | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel-rt-debuginfo | 0:4.18.0-80.7.2.rt9.154.el8_0 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::nfv | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:kernel-rt-debuginfo-common-x86_64 | 0:4.18.0-80.7.2.rt9.154.el8_0 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::nfv | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:kernel-default | 4.4.180-94.107.1 · SUSE:HPE Helion OpenStack 8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP1_Update_2 | 6-2.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:kernel-source | 4.4.180-94.107.1 · SUSE:HPE Helion OpenStack 8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:kernel-syms | 4.4.180-94.107.1 · SUSE:HPE Helion OpenStack 8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP2_Update_33 | 1-3.5.1 · SUSE:OpenStack Cloud 7 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP3_Update_26 | 6-2.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP3 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP3_Update_27 | 4-2.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP3 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP3_Update_29 | 1-4.3.1 · SUSE:HPE Helion OpenStack 8 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP4_Update_2 | 7-2.5 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 12 SP4 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP4_Update_3 | 6-2.5 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 12 SP4 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP4_Update_4 | 6-2.5 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 12 SP4 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP4_Update_5 | 5-2.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Live Patching 12 SP4 | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
Weaponized
A ready exploit tool or active in-the-wild use is known for this vulnerability. This should be your top priority.
Evidence
- Metasploit module ×1
- Exploit-DB entry ×4
- Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub ×19
Noroxi does not host or link to exploit code. Metasploit module names and Nuclei template ids are shown (names, not code); Exploit-DB entries and PoC repositories are given as counts only.
| Source | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Exploit-DB entry | local | 2019-07-17 |
| Exploit-DB entry | local | 2019-07-24 |
| Exploit-DB entry | local | 2021-11-23 |
| Exploit-DB entry | local | 2019-10-24 |
| Metasploit module | exploit/linux/local/ptrace_traceme_pkexec_helperLinux Polkit pkexec helper PTRACE_TRACEME local root exploitexploit | 2019-07-04 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:333 | 2019-07-31 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:5 | 2019-07-31 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:1 | 2019-08-04 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:4 | 2019-08-07 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:0 | 2020-03-05 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:0 | 2020-05-02 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:1 | 2020-05-11 |
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
- Metasploit-13 d
- First PoCsame day
- Published
- CISA KEV+877 d
- TodaySep 30, 2026+2632 d
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Someone with local access to the system can trigger it.
- A low-privileged account is enough.
- No user action is required.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- high · data can be read
- Integrity
- high · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- high · the service can be disrupted
- Attack vector
- Local
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
—
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
MITRE has no CAPEC/ATT&CK mapping for this CWE.
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for all 385,000+ vulnerabilities; that wouldn't be honest. For notable, high-impact vulnerabilities our team writes the mechanism, detection and remediation steps.
We use this product, ask for helpChange log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/153663/Linux-PTRACE_TRACEME-Broken-Permission-Object-Lifetime-Handling.html
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/153702/Slackware-Security-Advisory-Slackware-14.2-kernel-Updates.html
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:2405
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:2411
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:2809
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1730895
- bugzilla.suse.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1140671
- cdn.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v5.x/ChangeLog-5.1.17
- git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=6994eefb0053799d2e07cd140df6c2ea106c41ee
- github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/6994eefb0053799d2e07cd140df6c2ea106c41ee
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/07/msg00022.html
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/07/msg00023.html
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/OGRK5LYWBJ4E4SRI4DKX367NHYSI3VOH/
- seclists.org/bugtraq/2019/Jul/30
- seclists.org/bugtraq/2019/Jul/33
- security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20190806-0001/
- support.f5.com/csp/article/K91025336
- support.f5.com/csp/article/K91025336?utm_source=f5support&%3Butm_medium=RSS
- usn.ubuntu.com/4093-1/
- usn.ubuntu.com/4094-1/
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.