8.8
Advisory Published

ZDI-21-422: (Pwn2Own) Canonical Ubuntu ShiftFS File System Double Free Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Canonical Ubuntu. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute high-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the ShiftFS module. The issue results from the lack of validating the existence of an object prior to performing further free operations on the object. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute code in the context of the kernel.

Affected SoftwareAffected VersionHow to fix
Ubuntu Unattended Upgrades

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the severity of ZDI-21-422?

    ZDI-21-422 has a high severity rating due to its potential for privilege escalation on affected Ubuntu installations.

  • How do I fix ZDI-21-422?

    To fix ZDI-21-422, upgrade to the latest version of Ubuntu that addresses this vulnerability.

  • Who is affected by ZDI-21-422?

    ZDI-21-422 affects installations of Canonical Ubuntu that utilize the libdevmapper1.02.1 library.

  • What type of vulnerability is ZDI-21-422?

    ZDI-21-422 is a privilege escalation vulnerability that allows local attackers to gain elevated access to system resources.

  • Is ZDI-21-422 known to be exploited in the wild?

    As of now, there are no reported incidents of ZDI-21-422 being exploited in the wild, but it is important to apply updates to mitigate potential risks.

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