Vulnerability Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: clone_private_mnt(): make sure that caller has CAP_SYS_ADMIN in the right userns What we want is to verify there is that clone won't expose something hidden by a mount we wouldn't be able to undo. "Wouldn't be able to undo" may be a result of MNT_LOCKED on a child, but it may also come from lacking admin rights in the userns of the namespace mount belongs to. clone_private_mnt() checks the former, but not the latter. There's a number of rather confusing CAP_SYS_ADMIN checks in various userns during the mount, especially with the new mount API; they serve different purposes and in case of clone_private_mnt() they usually, but not always end up covering the missing check mentioned above.
CVSS Score
MEDIUM
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux Kernel | >= 4.4.281, < 4.5 |
| Debian | Debian Linux | 11.0 |
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/36fecd740de2d542d2091d65d36554ee2bcf9c65Patch
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/38628ae06e2a37770cd794802a3f1310cf9846e3Patch
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c28f922c9dcee0e4876a2c095939d77fe7e15116Patch
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d717325b5ecf2a40daca85c61923e17f32306179Patch
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dc6a664089f10eab0fb36b6e4f705022210191d2Patch
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e77078e52fbf018ab986efb3c79065ab35025607Patch
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/10/msg00008.htmlThird Party Advisory
- https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-082556.html
FAQ
What is CVE-2025-38499?
CVE-2025-38499 is a vulnerability with a CVSS score of 5.5 (MEDIUM). In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: clone_private_mnt(): make sure that caller has CAP_SYS_ADMIN in the right userns What we want is to verify there is that clone won...
How severe is CVE-2025-38499?
CVE-2025-38499 has been rated MEDIUM with a CVSS base score of 5.5/10. Review the CVSS metrics above for detailed severity breakdown.
Is there a patch for CVE-2025-38499?
Check the references section above for vendor advisories and patch information. Affected products include: Linux Linux Kernel, Debian Debian Linux.