Linux Kernel Improper Privilege Management Vulnerability

Exploited · KEV 2021-12-10Metasploit moduleCVE-2019-13272CWE-269

Exploited since 2021-12-10. No WAF vendor names it yet.

Edge rules

0/8

Our test

No exploit yet

CVSS

7.8

EPSS

52.2% Top 1%

Posts, 14d

Published

2019-07-17

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.

Edge coverage

Claimed by vendors

CloudflareBefore feed historyOlder than its feed AWSBefore feed historyOlder than its feed Microsoft AzureNo public claimNot named Google CloudBefore feed historyOlder than its feed FastlyBefore feed historyOlder than its feed F5Before feed historyOlder than its feed AkamaiNo public sourceNo public changelog OWASP CRSBefore feed historyOlder than its feed

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Ask about CVE-2019-13272: who's covered, what to patch first, how vendors compare. I cite sources and won't help with attacks.

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Severity, decoded

CVSS 3.1

7.8High

High · 7.8 / 10

Exploitable with local access, with low privileges and no user interaction, leading to full loss of confidentiality, integrity and availability.

Needs local accessAny user loginNo user actionWorks reliablyFull compromise

How the score is built8 metrics

Attack vectorAn attacker needs local access, or must trick a user into opening something on the machine.
Local
Attack complexityNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Low
Privileges requiredThe attacker needs an ordinary user account.
Low
User interactionNo one has to click or open anything; the attack works on its own.
None
ScopeThe damage stays within the vulnerable component.
Unchanged
Confidentiality impactAn attacker can read all data the affected component holds, or the most sensitive parts of it.
High
Integrity impactAn attacker can change any data or files the affected component protects.
High
Availability impactAn attacker can take the component down completely or keep it from serving anyone.
High

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CISA's assessmentSSVC, from the CVE record

ExploitationActive

Attackers are exploiting this in the wild.

AutomatableNo

At least one step needs hands-on work, which slows mass attacks.

Technical impactTotal

A successful attack gives full control over the affected software or all of its data.

Public exploits

5 found

1 Metasploit4 Exploit-DB0 Scanner template0 GitHub PoCs

MetasploitLinux Polkit pkexec helper PTRACE_TRACEME local root exploit2019-07-04 · exploit · rank Excellent · has check
Exploit-DBLinux Kernel 5.1.x - 'PTRACE_TRACEME' pkexec Local Privilege Escalation (2)2021-11-23 · local · linux
Exploit-DBLinux Polkit - pkexec helper PTRACE_TRACEME local root (Metasploit)2019-10-24 · local · linux · verified
Exploit-DBLinux Kernel 4.10 < 5.1.17 - 'PTRACE_TRACEME' pkexec Local Privilege Escalation2019-07-24 · local · linux
Exploit-DBLinux - Broken Permission and Object Lifetime Handling for PTRACE_TRACEME2019-07-17 · local · linux · verified

Links are to third-party code: never run it outside an isolated lab.

Timeline

2019-07-04
Metasploit module published
Linux Polkit pkexec helper PTRACE_TRACEME local root exploit
2019-07-17
CVE published
CVE List
2019-07-17
Exploit published on Exploit-DB
Linux - Broken Permission and Object Lifetime Handling for PTRACE_TRACEME
2021-12-10
Added to CISA KEV
Confirmed exploitation in the wild