Description
Local privilege escalation vulnerability in Ubuntu Kernels overlayfs ovl_copy_up_meta_inode_data skip permission checks when calling ovl_do_setxattr on Ubuntu kernels
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canonical | Ubuntu Kernel | — | — |
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.
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Nvidia-BlueField 22.04 LTS | linux-bluefield | 5.15.0-1090.92 | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-raspi-realtime | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux +1 | 5.15.0-177.187 | USN-8255-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-aws | 5.15.0-1106.113 | USN-8255-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-aws-5.19 | 5.19.0-1029.30~22.04.1 | USN-6260-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-aws-6.2 +1 | 6.2.0-1008.8~22.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure | 5.15.0-1111.120 | USN-8255-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde | 5.15.0-1114.123 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 5.15.0-1106.115 | USN-8255-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gcp-5.19 | 5.19.0-1030.32~22.04.1 | USN-6260-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gcp-6.2 | 6.2.0-1010.10~22.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gke | 5.15.0-1102.108 | USN-8255-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gkeop | 5.15.0-1089.97 | USN-8255-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-hwe-5.19 | 5.19.0-50.50 | USN-6260-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-hwe-6.2 | 6.2.0-26.26~22.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-ibm +1 | 5.15.0-1100.103 | USN-8255-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-intel-iotg | 5.15.0-1101.107 | USN-8255-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-kvm | 5.15.0-1098.103 | USN-8255-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19 | 5.19.0-1030.30 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2 | 6.2.0-1009.9~22.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-nvidia | 5.15.0-1101.102 | USN-8255-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-6.2 | 6.2.0-1009.9 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra | 5.15.0-1058.58 | USN-8255-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra-igx | 5.15.0-1047.47 | USN-8255-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-oem-6.0 | 6.0.0-1020.20 | USN-6248-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-oem-6.1 | 6.1.0-1019.19 | USN-6285-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 5.15.0-1103.109 | USN-8255-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv +17 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-xilinx-zynqmp | 5.15.0-1070.74 | USN-8275-1 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux | 5.4.0-155.172 | USN-6251-1 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-aws | 5.4.0-1106.114 | USN-6251-1 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-azure | 5.4.0-1112.118 | USN-6251-1 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-bluefield | 5.4.0-1068.74 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 5.4.0-1109.118 | USN-6251-1 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gke | 5.4.0-1104.111 | USN-6251-1 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gkeop | 5.4.0-1073.77 | USN-6251-1 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-ibm | 5.4.0-1053.58 | USN-6251-1 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-iot | 5.4.0-1018.19 | USN-6261-1 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-kvm | 5.4.0-1095.101 | USN-6251-1 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 5.4.0-1105.114 | USN-6251-1 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-raspi | 5.4.0-1090.101 | USN-6251-1 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-riscv +25 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-xilinx-zynqmp | 5.4.0-1026.30 | USN-6251-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp +14 | No fix yet | — |
Show 10 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe-edge | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 22.04 LTS | linux-intel-iot-realtime | 5.15.0-1098.100 | USN-8255-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 22.04 LTS | linux-realtime | 5.15.0-1105.114 | USN-8255-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS 20.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 22.04 LTS | linux-aws-fips | 5.15.0-1106.113+fips1 | USN-8255-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 22.04 LTS | linux-azure-fips | 5.15.0-1111.120+fips1 | USN-8255-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 22.04 LTS | linux-fips | 5.15.0-177.187+fips1 | USN-8255-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 22.04 LTS | linux-gcp-fips | 5.15.0-1106.115+fips1 | USN-8255-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS | linux-aws-fips | 5.4.0-1106.114+fips1 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS | linux-azure-fips | 5.4.0-1112.118+fips1 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS | linux-fips | 5.4.0-1081.90 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS | linux-gcp-fips | 5.4.0-1109.118+fips1 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 22.04 LTS | linux | 5.15.0-177.187 | LSN-0097-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 22.04 LTS | linux-aws | 5.15.0-1106.113 | LSN-0097-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 22.04 LTS | linux-aws-6.2 | 6.2.0-1008.8~22.04.1 | LSN-0097-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 22.04 LTS | linux-azure | 5.15.0-1111.120 | LSN-0097-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 22.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 5.15.0-1106.115 | LSN-0097-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 22.04 LTS | linux-gke | 5.15.0-1102.108 | LSN-0097-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 22.04 LTS | linux-ibm | 5.15.0-1100.103 | LSN-0097-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux | 5.4.0-155.172 | LSN-0097-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-aws | 5.4.0-1106.114 | LSN-0097-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-aws-5.15 | 5.15.0-1106.113~20.04.1 | USN-8255-1, LSN-0097-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-azure | 5.4.0-1112.118 | LSN-0097-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-azure-5.15 | 5.15.0-1111.120~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 5.4.0-1109.118 | LSN-0097-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-gcp-5.15 | 5.15.0-1106.115~20.04.1 | USN-8297-1, LSN-0097-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-gke | 5.4.0-1104.111 | LSN-0097-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-gke-5.15 | 5.15.0-1038.43~20.04.1 | LSN-0097-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-gkeop | 5.4.0-1073.77 | LSN-0097-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-hwe-5.15 +1 | 5.15.0-177.187~20.04.1 | USN-8255-1, LSN-0097-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-ibm | 5.4.0-1053.58 | LSN-0097-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-ibm-5.15 | 5.15.0-1100.103~20.04.1 | USN-8255-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-intel-iotg-5.15 | 5.15.0-1101.107~20.04.1 | USN-8255-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15 | 5.15.0-1058.58~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-oracle-5.15 | 5.15.0-1104.110~20.04.1 | USN-8439-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-riscv-5.15 | 5.15.0-1100.104~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | linux-aws-5.4 | 5.4.0-1106.114~18.04.1 | USN-6251-1, LSN-0097-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | linux-azure-5.4 | 5.4.0-1112.118~18.04.1 | USN-6251-1, LSN-0097-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp-5.4 | 5.4.0-1109.118~18.04.1 | USN-6251-1, LSN-0097-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | linux-gke-5.4 +1 | No fix yet | LSN-0097-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | linux-hwe-5.4 | 5.4.0-155.172~18.04.1 | USN-6251-1, LSN-0097-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | linux-ibm-5.4 | 5.4.0-1053.58~18.04.1 | USN-6251-1, LSN-0097-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | linux-oracle-5.4 | 5.4.0-1105.114~18.04.1 | USN-6251-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | linux-raspi-5.4 | 5.4.0-1090.101~18.04.1 | USN-6251-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | linux | 4.4.0-243.277 | LSN-0097-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | linux-aws | 4.4.0-1159.174 | LSN-0097-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | linux-aws-hwe | 4.15.0-1159.172~16.04.1 | LSN-0097-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe | 4.15.0-214.225~16.04.1 | LSN-0097-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | linux-lts-xenial | 4.4.0-243.277~14.04.1 | LSN-0097-1 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Metasploit 1 module
-
GameOver(lay) Privilege Escalation and Container Escape
exploit/linux/local/gameoverlay_privesc
GitHub 5 repositories
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ThrynSec/CVE-2023-32629-CVE-2023-2640---POC-Escalation ★ 109 · Nov 9, 2023
Ubuntu Privilege Escalation bash one-liner using CVE-2023-32629 & CVE-2023-2640
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kaotickj/Check-for-CVE-2023-32629-GameOver-lay ★ 10 · Aug 11, 2023
Check for CVE-2023-32629 "GameOver(lay)" vulnerability
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k4but0/Ubuntu-LPE ★ 4 · Nov 11, 2023
One-Liner CVE-2023-32629/CVE-2023-2640 Ubuntu Privilege Escalation
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xS9NTX/CVE-2023-32629-CVE-2023-2640-Ubuntu-Privilege-Escalation-POC ★ 1 · Dec 13, 2023
CVE-2023-32629 & CVE-2023-2640 Ubuntu Privilege Escalation POC
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h3raklez/CVE-2023-32629 ★ 0 · Apr 25, 2026
OverlayFS Local Privilege Escalation - Full write-up to full escalation
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 11
- USN-8297-1 linux-gcp-5.15 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 4, 2026
- USN-8275-1 linux-xilinx-zynqmp vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 4, 2026
- USN-8439-1 linux-oracle-5.15 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Oct 29, 2026
- USN-6260-1 linux-aws-5.19, linux-gcp-5.19, linux-hwe-5.19 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Oct 22, 2026
- USN-6285-1 linux-oem-6.1 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Oct 22, 2026
- USN-6248-1 linux-oem-6.0 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Oct 22, 2026
- USN-8255-1 linux, linux-aws, linux-aws-5.15, linux-aws-fips, linux-azure, linux-azure-fips, linux-fips, linux-gcp, linux-gcp-fips, linux-gke, linux-gkeop, linux-hwe-5.15, linux-ibm, linux-ibm-5.15, linux-intel-iot-realtime, linux-intel-iotg, linux-intel-iotg-5.15, linux-kvm, linux-lowlatency, linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15, linux-nvidia, linux-nvidia-tegra, linux-nvidia-tegra-igx, linux-oracle, linux-realtime vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Oct 8, 2026
- USN-6251-1 linux, linux-aws, linux-aws-5.4, linux-azure, linux-azure-5.4, linux-gcp, linux-gcp-5.4, linux-gke, linux-gkeop, linux-hwe-5.4, linux-ibm, linux-ibm-5.4, linux-kvm, linux-oracle, linux-oracle-5.4, linux-raspi, linux-raspi-5.4, linux-xilinx-zynqmp vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 3, 2026
- USN-6261-1 linux-iot vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 3, 2026
- LSN-0097-1 Kernel Live Patch Security Notice Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 3, 2026
- WID-SEC-2023-1903 Ubuntu Linux: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · May 18, 2026
References
- https://ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-6250-1 vendor-advisory
- https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/kernel-team/2023-July/140920.html mailing-list
- https://wiz.io/blog/ubuntu-overlayfs-vulnerability technical-description
- https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-32629 issue-tracking
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/174577/Kernel-Live-Patch-Security-Notice-LSN-0097-1.html