Description
kernel/ptrace.c in the Linux kernel through 4.4.1 mishandles uid and gid mappings, which allows local users to gain privileges by establishing a user namespace, waiting for a root process to enter that namespace with an unsafe uid or gid, and then using the ptrace system call. NOTE: the vendor states "there is no kernel bug here.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | linux | 4.3.3-3 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 4.3.3-3 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 4.3.3-3 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-riscv +6 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv +2 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gke +4 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux | 4.4.0-51.72 | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-raspi2 | 4.4.0-1038.45 | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-snapdragon | 4.4.0-1042.46 | — |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux | 3.13.0-103.150 | USN-2848-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux-lts-utopic | 3.16.0-57.77~14.04.1 | USN-2849-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux-lts-vivid | 3.19.0-75.83~14.04.1 | USN-2854-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux-lts-wily | 4.2.0-22.27~14.04.1 | USN-2853-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux-lts-xenial | 4.4.0-51.72~14.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde-5.15 | No fix yet | — |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP2 | kernel-docs | 4.4.49-92.11.3 | SUSE-SU-2017:0575-1 |
| SLES 12 SP2 | kernel-syms +3 | 4.4.49-92.11.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0575-1 |
| SLES 12 SP1 | kernel-docs | 3.12.57-60.35.3 | SUSE-SU-2016:1019-1 |
| SLES 12 SP1 | kernel-xen +4 | 3.12.57-60.35.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1019-1 |
| SLES 12 | kernel-docs +1 | 3.12.55-52.42.2 | SUSE-SU-2016:0785-1 |
| SLES 12 | kernel-ec2 +4 | 3.12.55-52.42.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1019-1, SUSE-SU-2016:0785-1 |
Show 5 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.4.49-92.11.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0575-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | kernel-xen +3 | 3.12.57-60.35.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1019-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 | kernel-xen +3 | 3.12.55-52.42.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:0785-1 |
| SLE Real Time 12 SP1 | kernel-rt +5 | 3.12.58-14.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1764-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP1_Update_0 | 4-11.2 | SUSE-SU-2016:1031-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP1_Update_3 | 2-2.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1033-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP1_Update_4 | 1-2.3 | SUSE-SU-2016:1019-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP2_Update_5 | 1-6.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0575-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 | kgraft-patch-SLE12_Update_11 +1 | 3-2.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1035-1, SUSE-SU-2016:1034-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 | kgraft-patch-SLE12_Update_12 | 1-2.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:0785-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 | kgraft-patch-SLE12_Update_4 +1 | 6-2.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1046-1, SUSE-SU-2016:1040-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 | kgraft-patch-SLE12_Update_6 +1 | 5-2.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1038-1, SUSE-SU-2016:1037-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 | kgraft-patch-SLE12_Update_8 +3 | 4-2.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:1045-1, SUSE-SU-2016:1041-1, SUSE-SU-2016:1039-1 |
Advisories 20
- USN-2848-1 linux vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Sep 7, 2026
- USN-2849-1 linux-lts-utopic vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Sep 7, 2026
- USN-2853-1 linux-lts-wily vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Sep 7, 2026
- USN-2854-1 linux-lts-vivid vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Sep 7, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:1040-1 Security update for Linux Kernel Live Patch 4 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:1041-1 Security update for Linux Kernel Live Patch 8 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:1034-1 Security update for Linux Kernel Live Patch 11 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:1764-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:1045-1 Security update for Linux Kernel Live Patch 10 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:0575-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:1039-1 Security update for Linux Kernel Live Patch 9 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:1033-1 Security update for Linux Kernel Live Patch 3 for SP 1 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:1031-1 Security update for Linux Kernel Live Patch 0 for SP 1 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:1035-1 Security update for Linux Kernel Live Patch 2 for SP 1 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:1032-1 Security update for Linux Kernel Live Patch 1 for SP 1 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:1038-1 Security update for Linux Kernel Live Patch 6 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:1046-1 Security update for Linux Kernel Live Patch 5 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 2, 2025
- SUSE-SU-2016:1037-1 Security update for Linux Kernel Live Patch 7 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 2, 2025
- SUSE-SU-2016:1019-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 2, 2025
- SUSE-SU-2016:0785-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 2, 2025
References
- SUSE-SU-2016:1038 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SU-2016:1033 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SU-2016:1034 vendor-advisory
- [linux-kernel] 20151226 [PATCH] ptrace: being capable wrt a process requires mapped uids/gids mailing-list
- SUSE-SU-2016:1035 vendor-advisory
- [linux-kernel] 20160106 Re: [PATCH] ptrace: being capable wrt a process requires mapped uids/gids mailing-list
- SUSE-SU-2016:1764 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SU-2016:1031 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SU-2016:1019 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20151231 Re: CVE Request: Linux kernel: privilege escalation in user namespaces mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20151217 CVE Request: Linux kernel: privilege escalation in user namespaces mailing-list
- SUSE-SU-2016:1037 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SU-2016:1045 vendor-advisory
- [linux-kernel] 20160106 Re: [PATCH] ptrace: being capable wrt a process requires mapped uids/gids mailing-list
- FEDORA-2016-5d43766e33 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SU-2016:1032 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SU-2016:1039 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SU-2016:1041 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SU-2016:1046 vendor-advisory
- 79899 vdb-entry
- 1034899 vdb-entry
- openSUSE-SU-2016:1008 vendor-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1295287
- DSA-3434 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SU-2016:1040 vendor-advisory