CVE-2018-13405: High severity Linux Linux kernel vulnerability

Published Jul 5, 2018
·
Updated

A vulnerability was found in the fs/inode.c:inodeinitowner() function logic of the LInux kernel that allows local users to create files with an unintended group ownership and with group execution and SGID permission bits set, in a scenario where a directory is SGID and belongs to a certain group and is writable by a user who is not a member of this group. This can lead to excessive permissions granted in case when they should not.

Other sources

The inodeinitowner function in fs/inode.c in the Linux kernel through 3.16 allows local users to create files with an unintended group ownership, in a scenario where a directory is SGID to a certain group and is writable by a user who is not a member of that group. Here, the non-member can trigger creation of a plain file whose group ownership is that group. The intended behavior was that the non-member can trigger creation of a directory (but not a plain file) whose group ownership is that group. The non-member can escalate privileges by making the plain file executable and SGID.

The Linux kernel has a vulnerability in the fs/inode.c:inodeinitowner() function logic that allows local users to create files with an unintended group ownership and with group execution and SGID permission bits set, in a scenario where a directory is SGID and belongs to a certain group and is writable by a user who is not a member of this group. This can lead to excessive permissions granted in case when they should not.

References:

http://seclists.org/oss-sec/2018/q3/35

An upstream patch:

https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=0fa3ecd87848c9c93c2c828ef4c3a8ca36ce46c7

Red Hat

Affected Software

104 affected componentsFixes available
redhat/kernel<0:2.6.32-754.12.1.el6
0:2.6.32-754.12.1.el6
redhat/kernel<0:2.6.32-504.80.2.el6
0:2.6.32-504.80.2.el6
redhat/kernel-rt<0:3.10.0-957.rt56.910.el7
0:3.10.0-957.rt56.910.el7
redhat/kernel-alt<0:4.14.0-115.el7a
0:4.14.0-115.el7a
redhat/kernel<0:3.10.0-957.el7
0:3.10.0-957.el7
redhat/kernel<0:3.10.0-327.83.1.el7
0:3.10.0-327.83.1.el7
redhat/kernel<0:3.10.0-514.71.1.el7
0:3.10.0-514.71.1.el7
redhat/kernel<0:3.10.0-693.58.1.el7
0:3.10.0-693.58.1.el7
redhat/kernel<0:3.10.0-862.41.1.el7
0:3.10.0-862.41.1.el7
redhat/kernel-rt<1:3.10.0-693.58.1.rt56.652.el6
1:3.10.0-693.58.1.rt56.652.el6
Linux Linux kernel<=3.16
Debian Debian Linux=8.0
Debian Debian Linux=9.0
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=14.04
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=16.04
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=16.04
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=18.04
Fedoraproject Fedora=34
Fedoraproject Fedora=35
redhat Mrg Realtime=2.0
redhat Virtualization=4.0
redhat Enterprise Linux Aus=7.4
redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop=6.0
redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop=7.0
redhat Enterprise Linux Eus=7.4
redhat Enterprise Linux Eus=7.5
redhat Enterprise Linux For Real Time=7
redhat Enterprise Linux Server=6.0
redhat Enterprise Linux Server=7.0
redhat Enterprise Linux Server Aus=6.6
redhat Enterprise Linux Server Aus=7.2
redhat Enterprise Linux Server Aus=7.3
redhat Enterprise Linux Server Tus=7.2
redhat Enterprise Linux Server Tus=7.3
redhat Enterprise Linux Server Tus=7.4
redhat Enterprise Linux Workstation=6.0
redhat Enterprise Linux Workstation=7.0
F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager>=13.0.0<13.1.3.5
F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager>=14.0.0<14.1.3.1
F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager>=15.0.0<15.0.1.4
F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager=15.1.0
F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager=16.0.0
F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager>=13.0.0<13.1.3.5
F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager>=14.0.0<14.1.3.1
F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager>=15.0.0<15.0.1.4
F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager=15.1.0
F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager=16.0.0
F5 BIG-IP Analytics>=13.0.0<13.1.3.5
F5 BIG-IP Analytics>=14.0.0<14.1.3.1
F5 BIG-IP Analytics>=15.0.0<15.0.1.4
F5 BIG-IP Analytics=15.1.0
F5 BIG-IP Analytics=16.0.0
F5 Big-ip Application Acceleration Manager>=13.0.0<13.1.3.5
F5 Big-ip Application Acceleration Manager>=14.0.0<14.1.3.1
F5 Big-ip Application Acceleration Manager>=15.0.0<15.0.1.4
F5 Big-ip Application Acceleration Manager=15.1.0
F5 Big-ip Application Acceleration Manager=16.0.0
F5 BIG-IP Application Security Manager>=13.0.0<13.1.3.5
F5 BIG-IP Application Security Manager>=14.0.0<14.1.3.1
F5 BIG-IP Application Security Manager>=15.0.0<15.0.1.4
F5 BIG-IP Application Security Manager=15.1.0
F5 BIG-IP Application Security Manager=16.0.0
F5 Big-ip Domain Name System>=13.0.0<13.1.3.5
F5 Big-ip Domain Name System>=14.0.0<14.1.3.1
F5 Big-ip Domain Name System>=15.0.0<15.0.1.4
F5 Big-ip Domain Name System=15.1.0
F5 Big-ip Domain Name System=16.0.0
F5 BIG-IP Edge Gateway>=13.0.0<13.1.3.5
F5 BIG-IP Edge Gateway>=14.0.0<14.1.3.1
F5 BIG-IP Edge Gateway>=15.0.0<15.0.1.4
F5 BIG-IP Edge Gateway=15.1.0
F5 BIG-IP Edge Gateway=16.0.0
F5 Big-ip Fraud Protection Service>=13.0.0<13.1.3.5
F5 Big-ip Fraud Protection Service>=14.0.0<14.1.3.1
F5 Big-ip Fraud Protection Service>=15.0.0<15.0.1.4
F5 Big-ip Fraud Protection Service=15.1.0
F5 Big-ip Fraud Protection Service=16.0.0
F5 Big-ip Global Traffic Manager>=13.0.0<13.1.3.5
F5 Big-ip Global Traffic Manager>=14.0.0<14.1.3.1
F5 Big-ip Global Traffic Manager>=15.0.0<15.0.1.4
F5 Big-ip Global Traffic Manager=15.1.0
F5 Big-ip Global Traffic Manager=16.0.0
F5 Big-ip Link Controller>=13.0.0<13.1.3.5
F5 Big-ip Link Controller>=14.0.0<14.1.3.1
F5 Big-ip Link Controller>=15.0.0<15.0.1.4
F5 Big-ip Link Controller=15.1.0
F5 Big-ip Link Controller=16.0.0
F5 Big-ip Local Traffic Manager>=13.0.0<13.1.3.5
F5 Big-ip Local Traffic Manager>=14.0.0<14.1.3.1
F5 Big-ip Local Traffic Manager>=15.0.0<15.0.1.4
F5 Big-ip Local Traffic Manager=15.1.0
F5 Big-ip Local Traffic Manager=16.0.0
F5 Big-ip Policy Enforcement Manager>=13.0.0<13.1.3.5
F5 Big-ip Policy Enforcement Manager>=14.0.0<14.1.3.1
F5 Big-ip Policy Enforcement Manager>=15.0.0<15.0.1.4
F5 Big-ip Policy Enforcement Manager=15.1.0
F5 Big-ip Policy Enforcement Manager=16.0.0
F5 Big-ip Webaccelerator>=13.0.0<13.1.3.5
F5 Big-ip Webaccelerator>=14.0.0<14.1.3.1
F5 Big-ip Webaccelerator>=15.0.0<15.0.1.4
F5 Big-ip Webaccelerator=15.1.0
F5 Big-ip Webaccelerator=16.0.0
Google Android
debian/linux
5.10.223-15.10.262-16.1.176-16.1.180-16.12.94-16.12.101-17.1.7-17.1.8-1

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 0:2.6.32-754.12.1.el6
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 0:2.6.32-504.80.2.el6
  3. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/kernel-rt to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 0:3.10.0-957.rt56.910.el7
  4. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/kernel-alt to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 0:4.14.0-115.el7a
  5. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 0:3.10.0-957.el7
  6. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 0:3.10.0-327.83.1.el7
  7. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 0:3.10.0-514.71.1.el7
  8. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 0:3.10.0-693.58.1.el7
  9. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 0:3.10.0-862.41.1.el7
  10. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/kernel-rt to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 1:3.10.0-693.58.1.rt56.652.el6
  11. Upgrade

    Upgrade debian/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.10.223-1Fixed in 5.10.262-1Fixed in 6.1.176-1Fixed in 6.1.180-1Fixed in 6.12.94-1Fixed in 6.12.101-1Fixed in 7.1.7-1Fixed in 7.1.8-1
  12. Upgrade

    Upgrade linux kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Patch 0fa3ecd87848c9c93c2c828ef4c3a8ca36ce46c7
  13. Compensating control

    Until the upstream fix is applied, mitigate the impact by restricting write access to SGID directories so that non-member users who are not in the directory’s owning group cannot create files within those SGID directories.

Event History

Jul 5, 2018
CVE Published
12:00 AM
Jul 6, 2018
CVE Published
via MITRE·02:00 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·02:00 PM
Description
Data Sourced
via NVD·02:29 PM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Jul 9, 2018
Data Sourced
via Red Hat·05:50 AM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Jan 7, 2019
Data Sourced
via Android·12:00 AM
SeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Jun 24, 2026
Data Sourced
via Launchpad·11:10 AM
Description
Jul 4, 2026
Data Sourced
via Ubuntu·11:29 AM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Aug 12, 2026
Data Sourced
via Debian·12:15 PM
DescriptionAffected Software
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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2018-13405?

CVE-2018-13405 is classified as a medium severity vulnerability due to its potential impact on file permissions.

2

How does CVE-2018-13405 affect Linux kernel versions?

CVE-2018-13405 affects several versions of the Linux kernel, particularly those prior to specific patched releases.

3

How do I fix CVE-2018-13405?

To fix CVE-2018-13405, upgrade to a kernel version that includes the patch for this vulnerability.

4

Who is affected by CVE-2018-13405?

Local users on systems running vulnerable versions of the Linux kernel can exploit CVE-2018-13405.

5

What are the potential consequences of CVE-2018-13405?

CVE-2018-13405 could allow local users to create files with unintended group ownership and permissions, potentially compromising system security.

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