CVE-2025-68736: landlock: Fix handling of disconnected directories

Published Dec 24, 2025
·
Updated

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

landlock: Fix handling of disconnected directories

Disconnected files or directories can appear when they are visible and opened from a bind mount, but have been renamed or moved from the source of the bind mount in a way that makes them inaccessible from the mount point (i.e. out of scope).

Previously, access rights tied to files or directories opened through a disconnected directory were collected by walking the related hierarchy down to the root of the filesystem, without taking into account the mount point because it couldn't be found. This could lead to inconsistent access results, potential access right widening, and hard-to-debug renames, especially since such paths cannot be printed.

For a sandboxed task to create a disconnected directory, it needs to have write access (i.e. FSMAKEREG, FSREMOVEFILE, and FSREFER) to the underlying source of the bind mount, and read access to the related mount point. Because a sandboxed task cannot acquire more access rights than those defined by its Landlock domain, this could lead to inconsistent access rights due to missing permissions that should be inherited from the mount point hierarchy, while inheriting permissions from the filesystem hierarchy hidden by this mount point instead.

Landlock now handles files and directories opened from disconnected directories by taking into account the filesystem hierarchy when the mount point is not found in the hierarchy walk, and also always taking into account the mount point from which these disconnected directories were opened. This ensures that a rename is not allowed if it would widen access rights [1].

The rationale is that, even if disconnected hierarchies might not be visible or accessible to a sandboxed task, relying on the collected access rights from them improves the guarantee that access rights will not be widened during a rename because of the access right comparison between the source and the destination (see LANDLOCKACCESSFSREFER). It may look like this would grant more access on disconnected files and directories, but the security policies are always enforced for all the evaluated hierarchies. This new behavior should be less surprising to users and safer from an access control perspective.

Remove a wrong WARNONONCE() canary in collectdomainaccesses() and fix the related comment.

Because opened files have their access rights stored in the related file security properties, there is no impact for disconnected or unlinked files.

Affected Software

3 affected componentsFixes available
linux/kernel
Microsoft azl3 kernel 6.6.117.1-1
Microsoft azl3 kernel 6.6.141.1-1<6.6.143.1-1
6.6.143.1-1

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.6.143.1-1

Event History

Dec 24, 2025
CVE Published
via MITRE·12:09 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·12:09 PM
DescriptionSeverity
Data Sourced
via NVD·01:16 PM
DescriptionSeverity
Dec 25, 2025
Data Sourced
via Microsoft·01:03 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Updated
via Microsoft·09:03 AM
DescriptionSeverity
Updated
via Microsoft·09:03 AM
SeverityAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2025-68736?

CVE-2025-68736 has been classified with a severity level based on its potential impact, specifically related to the handling of disconnected directories in the Linux kernel.

2

How do I fix CVE-2025-68736?

To fix CVE-2025-68736, ensure you have updated to the latest version of the Linux kernel or Microsoft azl3 kernel that addresses this vulnerability.

3

What systems are affected by CVE-2025-68736?

CVE-2025-68736 affects the Linux kernel and Microsoft azl3 kernel version 6.6.117.1-1.

4

What types of attacks does CVE-2025-68736 mitigate?

CVE-2025-68736 mitigates potential issues related to unauthorized access caused by the mishandling of disconnected directories in the Linux kernel.

5

Is CVE-2025-68736 exploitable remotely?

CVE-2025-68736 could potentially be exploited remotely if the vulnerable systems are not patched, as it involves directory handling that is exposed through bind mounts.

Contact

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