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CVE-2026-98214

selinux: recheck intermediate backing files on mprotect()

Linux LinuxOperating systems
CVSS
NoneNot scored
ExploitationNo known exploitationNot in CISA KEV, which does not prove it is unexploitedCISA KEV
Exploit odds (EPSS)0.22%Chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 11% of CVEs. Scored 23 Oct 2026FIRST EPSS
Fixed in4d50ebe5a27724e020747ffd61a051dec67cb8ecAlso 89376fbfdcc1a728e1775f98752cdd90b0930a00, 78fc54b934bfb2c18aad8154c7302067146946f9 and 4 moreCVE List
Published6 Oct 2026Updated 19 Oct 2026CVE List

What fixes it

Show all 7 fixed versions

A fixed version on one release line is not the upgrade target for every line. Check your exact version and any vendor backports.

Description

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

selinux: recheck intermediate backing files on mprotect()

mprotect() can be used to bypass the SELinux checks that mmap() performs against the intermediate layers of a stacked filesystem.

mmap() checks every backing layer as the request descends through the stack. mprotect() only has the lowest backing file in vma->vm_file, so it rechecks the top-level user and the lowest mounter, but skips the mounters of every layer in between. With two nested overlayfs mounts and a policy denying mounter_t -> middle_file_t:file { execute }, a direct mmap(PROT_EXEC) is denied:

avc: denied { execute } for pid=71 comm="nested_exec" path="/payload" dev="overlay" ino=9 scontext=user_u:base_r:mounter_t tcontext=user_u:object_r:middle_file_t tclass=file permissive=0

while mmap(PROT_NONE) followed by mprotect(PROT_EXEC) succeeds.

Preserve each intermediate path, mounter SID and file-description SID in the backing-file security blob, copying the saved entries when another backing layer is opened. Allocate the array only for nested backing files, and release it and the path references in the backing_file_free hook.

During mprotect(), recheck fd { use } and the requested inode permissions for every saved mounter, and include the intermediate layers in the execmod checks. Policy for nested stacking may then need to grant intermediate mounters what a direct mmap() already requires, and execmod on intermediate labels for binaries using text relocations.

Tested on arm64 QEMU with a small BusyBox initramfs and a purpose-built SELinux policy, on a mainline tree containing commit f2381b546e7e ("fs: fix user path of nested backing files").

[PM: subject tweak]

Text from CVE List

Affected versions 17

  • Linuxaffected: bc6c380c1159de52a252ed11f19a42c47f60a735 before 4d50ebe5a27724e020747ffd61a051dec67cb8ecCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 8bacd09f12c27710228562e4d13163e58c5f4a45 before 89376fbfdcc1a728e1775f98752cdd90b0930a00CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: d844702198395d3f80222777030f69db6be6b709 before d127c7e1f3e1231d8ac8b2738e3f00bea12afe74CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 82544d36b1729153c8aeb179e84750f0c085d3b1 before c2bbb905af2293549651b614a52ad91e0b462b60CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 82544d36b1729153c8aeb179e84750f0c085d3b1 before 78fc54b934bfb2c18aad8154c7302067146946f9CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: cd0e707a927a70cdfd8bc5a512a9719a87f5ed51CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 6.6.144 before 6.6.158CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 6.12.95 before 6.12.112CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 6.18.38 before 6.18.54CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 7.0.4 before 7.1CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 7.1CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: all versions before 7.1CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.6.158 through 6.6.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.12.112 through 6.12.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.18.54 through 6.18.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 7.2.8 through 7.2.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 7.3CVE List

References 5