CVE-2019-13272
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.
- Published Jul 17, 2019
- CVSS 7.8 high
- 52.2% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS)
- In CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
- A Metasploit module exploits it
- A fix is available
In the news
- Exploits and vulnerabilities in Q2 2026 Securelist ·