UBUNTU-CVE-2026-98215: Medium severity ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: selinux: preserve user SID across nested backing files SELinux saves the user file SID in a backing-file security blob so it remains available after mmap() replaces vma->vmfile with a backing file. For nested backing files (overlayfs over overlayfs, or FUSE passthrough backed by overlayfs), userfile may itself be a backing file. Its fsec->sid is the SID of the mounter that opened it, rather than the user that opened the top-level file. mprotect() then checks fd { use } against the mounter SID. This can incorrectly deny access without a domain transition, or check the wrong target SID after one. Copy the saved user SID when userfile is a backing file. Keep using the regular file SID for the first backing layer. With two nested overlayfs mounts and SELinux enforcing, mprotect(PROTREAD) returns EACCES with an fd { use } denial against the mounter SID. With this change, mprotect() succeeds. Tested on arm64 QEMU with a small BusyBox initramfs and a purpose-built SELinux policy. The original test was also repeated with Fedora Cloud Base 44 userspace and gave the same result.
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-hwe-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42~24.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-riscv-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42.1~24.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linuxto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-awsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.17 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gcpto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.18 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-ibmto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.17 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-oem-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.17 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-oracleto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1015.16 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-riscvto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42.1
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
Which systems are likely to encounter this issue?
Systems need SELinux in enforcing mode and nested backing files, such as overlayfs mounted over overlayfs or FUSE passthrough backed by overlayfs. The reported failure occurs when mprotect() is performed on a file accessed through that nested arrangement.
What is the observable impact?
mprotect(PROT_READ) can fail with EACCES and an SELinux fd { use } denial that targets the SID of the mounter rather than the user that opened the top-level file. Depending on domain transitions, the incorrect SID may cause an access denial or an authorization check against the wrong target.
Are ordinary single-layer backing-file configurations affected?
The issue concerns nested backing files. The fix retains the regular file SID for the first backing layer and copies the saved user SID only when the user file is itself a backing file.