CVE-2019-13272
Linux Kernel Improper Privilege Management Vulnerability
- Published
- Jul 17, 2019
- Updated
- Oct 21, 2025
- Assigning CNA
- mitre
- Evidence observed
- Jul 17, 2019
Primary CVSS
nvd · CVSS 3.1
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HHigh · next 30 days
- Percentile
- 99.0%
- Model date
- Oct 19, 2026
EPSS is a statistical estimate, not a certainty or a measure of impact. Combine it with CVSS, KEV status, exposure and your environment.
CISA Known Exploited
This CVE appears in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Summary
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.
Sources
modules/exploits/linux/local/ptrace_traceme_pkexec_helper.rb
Metasploit Framework modulesDeclared conditions
- platform: Linux($.exploit_linux/local/ptrace_traceme_pkexec_helper.platform)
- verification: check_declared($.exploit_linux/local/ptrace_traceme_pkexec_helper.check)
- CVE-2019-13272Exploit
Responsible use
Use vulnerability information only on systems you own or are authorized to test. Kitploit links to public research metadata and does not store exploit code or malicious payloads.