---
id: "CVE-2019-13272"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2019-13272"]
title: "Linux Kernel: Linux Kernel Improper Privilege Management Vulnerability"
severity: "high"
cvss: 7.8
epss: 0.52199
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: [{"name": "Linux Kernel", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["exploited", "infrastructure", "kubernetes", "linux", "self-hosted"]
not_affected_if: ["managed-hosting", "patched-kernel"]
published_at: "2019-07-17T13:15:10+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2019-13272", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00"}, {"source": "epss", "url": "https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2019-13272", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:13:44+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-13272", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00"}]
---

# Linux Kernel: Linux Kernel Improper Privilege Management Vulnerability

A flaw in the Linux kernel's ptrace code mishandles privileges, letting a local user gain root. An attacker with a shell on the machine can escalate to full root control.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:Linux Kernel affected ? fixed ?

## How to check

uname -r

## Fix

Update the Linux kernel to a vendor release that includes the fix for CVE-2019-13272, then reboot. Fixed version: unknown

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2019-13272
- 2026-10-23T19:13:44+00:00 epss https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2019-13272
- 2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-13272

## From the sources

In the Linux kernel before 5.1.17, ptrace_link in kernel/ptrace.c mishandles the recording of the credentials of a process that wants to create a ptrace relationship, which allows local users to obtain root access by leveraging certain scenarios with a parent-child process relationship, where a parent drops privileges and calls execve (potentially allowing control by an attacker). One contributing factor is an object lifetime issue (which can also cause a panic). Another contributing factor is incorrect marking of a ptrace relationship as privileged, which is exploitable through (for example) Polkit's pkexec helper with PTRACE_TRACEME. NOTE: SELinux deny_ptrace might be a usable workaround in some environments.

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_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_