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CVE-2018-18955

In the Linux kernel 4.15.x through 4.19.x before 4.19.2, map_write() in kernel/user_namespace.c...

7.0 HighPublic exploitFix available

In the Linux kernel 4.15.x through 4.19.x before 4.19.2, map_write() in kernel/user_namespace.c allows privilege escalation because it mishandles nested user namespaces with more than 5 UID or GID ranges. A user who has CAP_SYS_ADMIN in an affected user namespace can bypass access controls on resources outside the namespace, as demonstrated by reading /etc/shadow. This occurs because an ID transformation takes place properly for the namespaced-to-kernel direction but not for the kernel-to-namespaced direction.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Local
Complexity
High
Privileges needed
Low
User interaction
None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Exploit likelihood

7.67%Down 45.3 points since Apr 14, 2021
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

NVD Score used 7.0

In the Linux kernel 4.15.x through 4.19.x before 4.19.2, map_write() in kernel/user_namespace.c allows privilege escalation because it mishandles nested user namespaces with more than 5 UID or GID ranges. A user who has CAP_SYS_ADMIN in an affected user namespace can bypass access controls on resources outside the namespace, as demonstrated by reading /etc/shadow. This occurs because an ID transformation takes place properly for the namespaced-to-kernel direction but not for the kernel-to-namespaced direction.

Record
CVE-2018-18955
CVSS 3.0
7.0 HighCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 2.0
4.4 MediumAV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
Weakness
CWE-863
Updated
2026-11-02
CVE List No score

In the Linux kernel 4.15.x through 4.19.x before 4.19.2, map_write() in kernel/user_namespace.c allows privilege escalation because it mishandles nested user namespaces with more than 5 UID or GID ranges. A user who has CAP_SYS_ADMIN in an affected user namespace can bypass access controls on resources outside the namespace, as demonstrated by reading /etc/shadow. This occurs because an ID transformation takes place properly for the namespaced-to-kernel direction but not for the kernel-to-namespaced direction.

Record
CVE-2018-18955
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2018-10659 No score

In the Linux kernel 4.15.x through 4.19.x before 4.19.2, map_write() in kernel/user_namespace.c allows privilege escalation because it mishandles nested user namespaces with more than 5 UID or GID ranges. A user who has CAP_SYS_ADMIN in an affected user namespace can bypass access controls on resources outside the namespace, as demonstrated by reading /etc/shadow. This occurs because an ID transformation takes place properly for the namespaced-to-kernel direction but not for the kernel-to-namespaced direction.

Record
EUVD-2018-10659
Updated
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-c6xj-3c77-g5rg 7.0

In the Linux kernel 4.15.x through 4.19.x before 4.19.2, map_write() in kernel/user_namespace.c...

In the Linux kernel 4.15.x through 4.19.x before 4.19.2, map_write() in kernel/user_namespace.c allows privilege escalation because it mishandles nested user namespaces with more than 5 UID or GID ranges. A user who has CAP_SYS_ADMIN in an affected user namespace can bypass access controls on resources outside the namespace, as demonstrated by reading /etc/shadow. This occurs because an ID transformation takes place properly for the namespaced-to-kernel direction but not for the kernel-to-namespaced direction.

Record
GHSA-c6xj-3c77-g5rg
CVSS 3.0
7.0 HighCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-863
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV 7.0

In the Linux kernel 4.15.x through 4.19.x before 4.19.2, map_write() in kernel/user_namespace.c allows privilege escalation because it mishandles nested user namespaces with more than 5 UID or GID ranges. A user who has CAP_SYS_ADMIN in an affected user namespace can bypass access controls on resources outside the namespace, as demonstrated by reading /etc/shadow. This occurs because an ID transformation takes place properly for the namespaced-to-kernel direction but not for the kernel-to-namespaced direction.

Record
CVE-2018-18955
CVSS 3.0
7.0 HighCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2018-18955 7.0

In the Linux kernel 4.15.x through 4.19.x before 4.19.2, map_write() in kernel/user_namespace.c allows privilege escalation because it mishandles nested user namespaces with more than 5 UID or GID ranges. A user who has CAP_SYS_ADMIN in an affected user namespace can bypass access controls on resources outside the namespace, as demonstrated by reading /etc/shadow. This occurs because an ID transformation takes place properly for the namespaced-to-kernel direction but not for the kernel-to-namespaced direction.

Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2018-18955
CVSS 3.0
7.0 HighCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
Show 4 moreShow less
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2018-18955 7.0

In the Linux kernel 4.15.x through 4.19.x before 4.19.2, map_write() in kernel/user_namespace.c allows privilege escalation because it mishandles nested user namespaces with more than 5 UID or GID ranges. A user who has CAP_SYS_ADMIN in an affected user namespace can bypass access controls on resources outside the namespace, as demonstrated by reading /etc/shadow. This occurs because an ID transformation takes place properly for the namespaced-to-kernel direction but not for the kernel-to-namespaced direction.

Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2018-18955
CVSS 3.0
7.0 HighCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUSN-3833-1 No score

linux-aws vulnerabilities

Jann Horn discovered that the Linux kernel mishandles mapping UID or GID ranges inside nested user namespaces in some situations. A local attacker could use this to bypass access controls on resources outside the namespace. (CVE-2018-18955)

Philipp Wendler discovered that the overlayfs implementation in the Linux kernel did not properly verify the directory contents permissions from within a unprivileged user namespace. A local attacker could use this to expose sensitive information (protected file names). (CVE-2018-6559)

Record
USN-3833-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUSN-3836-1 No score

linux, linux-gcp, linux-kvm, linux-raspi2 vulnerabilities

Jann Horn discovered that the Linux kernel mishandles mapping UID or GID ranges inside nested user namespaces in some situations. A local attacker could use this to bypass access controls on resources outside the namespace. (CVE-2018-18955)

Philipp Wendler discovered that the overlayfs implementation in the Linux kernel did not properly verify the directory contents permissions from within a unprivileged user namespace. A local attacker could use this to expose sensitive information (protected file names). (CVE-2018-6559)

Record
USN-3836-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUSN-3836-2 No score

linux-hwe, linux-gcp vulnerabilities

USN-3836-1 fixed vulnerabilities in the Linux kernel for Ubuntu 18.04 LTS. This update provides the corresponding updates for the Linux Hardware Enablement (HWE) kernel from Ubuntu 18.04 LTS for Ubuntu 16.04 LTS.

Jann Horn discovered that the Linux kernel mishandles mapping UID or GID ranges inside nested user namespaces in some situations. A local attacker could use this to bypass access controls on resources outside the namespace. (CVE-2018-18955)

Philipp Wendler discovered that the overlayfs implementation in the Linux kernel did not properly verify the directory contents permissions from within a unprivileged user namespace. A local attacker could use this to expose sensitive information (protected file names). (CVE-2018-6559)

Record
USN-3836-2
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
linux
Debian:12
before 4.18.20-1
4.18.20-1
linux
Debian:13
before 4.18.20-1
4.18.20-1
linux
Debian:14
before 4.18.20-1
4.18.20-1
linux-azure
Ubuntu:14.04:LTS
before 4.15.0-1035.36~14.04.2, plus listed versions
4.15.0-1023.24~14.04.14.15.0-1030.31~14.04.14.15.0-1031.32~14.04.14.15.0-1032.33~14.04.2
4.15.0-1035.36~14.04.2
linux-azure
Ubuntu:16.04:LTS
before 4.15.0-1035.36~16.04.1, plus listed versions
4.11.0-1009.94.11.0-1011.114.11.0-1013.134.11.0-1014.144.11.0-1015.15
Show 22 moreShow less
4.11.0-1016.164.13.0-1005.74.13.0-1006.84.13.0-1007.94.13.0-1009.124.13.0-1011.144.13.0-1012.154.13.0-1014.174.13.0-1016.194.13.0-1018.214.15.0-1013.13~16.04.24.15.0-1014.14~16.04.14.15.0-1018.18~16.04.14.15.0-1019.19~16.04.14.15.0-1021.21~16.04.14.15.0-1022.22~16.04.14.15.0-1023.24~16.04.14.15.0-1025.26~16.04.14.15.0-1028.29~16.04.14.15.0-1030.31~16.04.14.15.0-1031.32~16.04.14.15.0-1032.33~16.04.1
4.15.0-1035.36~16.04.1
linux-gcp
Ubuntu:16.04:LTS
before 4.15.0-1025.26~16.04.1, plus listed versions
4.10.0-1004.44.10.0-1006.64.10.0-1007.74.10.0-1008.84.10.0-1009.9
Show 18 moreShow less
4.13.0-1002.54.13.0-1006.94.13.0-1007.104.13.0-1008.114.13.0-1011.154.13.0-1012.164.13.0-1013.174.13.0-1015.194.13.0-1017.214.13.0-1019.234.15.0-1014.14~16.04.14.15.0-1015.15~16.04.14.15.0-1017.18~16.04.14.15.0-1018.19~16.04.24.15.0-1019.20~16.04.14.15.0-1021.22~16.04.14.15.0-1023.24~16.04.14.15.0-1024.25~16.04.2
4.15.0-1025.26~16.04.1
linux-hwe
Ubuntu:16.04:LTS
before 4.15.0-42.45~16.04.1, plus listed versions
4.8.0-36.36~16.04.14.8.0-39.42~16.04.14.8.0-41.44~16.04.14.8.0-42.45~16.04.14.8.0-44.47~16.04.1
Show 38 moreShow less
4.8.0-45.48~16.04.14.8.0-46.49~16.04.14.8.0-49.52~16.04.14.8.0-51.54~16.04.14.8.0-52.55~16.04.14.8.0-53.56~16.04.14.8.0-54.57~16.04.14.8.0-56.61~16.04.14.8.0-58.63~16.04.14.10.0-27.30~16.04.24.10.0-28.32~16.04.24.10.0-30.34~16.04.14.10.0-32.36~16.04.14.10.0-33.37~16.04.14.10.0-35.39~16.04.14.10.0-37.41~16.04.14.10.0-38.42~16.04.14.10.0-40.44~16.04.14.10.0-42.46~16.04.14.13.0-26.29~16.04.24.13.0-31.34~16.04.14.13.0-32.35~16.04.14.13.0-36.40~16.04.14.13.0-37.42~16.04.14.13.0-38.43~16.04.14.13.0-39.44~16.04.14.13.0-41.46~16.04.14.13.0-43.48~16.04.14.13.0-45.50~16.04.14.15.0-24.26~16.04.14.15.0-29.31~16.04.14.15.0-30.32~16.04.14.15.0-32.35~16.04.14.15.0-33.36~16.04.14.15.0-34.37~16.04.14.15.0-36.39~16.04.14.15.0-38.41~16.04.14.15.0-39.42~16.04.1
4.15.0-42.45~16.04.1
linux
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS
before 4.15.0-42.45, plus listed versions
4.13.0-16.194.13.0-17.204.13.0-25.294.13.0-32.354.15.0-10.11
Show 16 moreShow less
4.15.0-12.134.15.0-13.144.15.0-15.164.15.0-19.204.15.0-20.214.15.0-22.244.15.0-23.254.15.0-24.264.15.0-29.314.15.0-30.324.15.0-32.354.15.0-33.364.15.0-34.374.15.0-36.394.15.0-38.414.15.0-39.42
4.15.0-42.45
linux-aws
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS
before 4.15.0-1029.30, plus listed versions
4.15.0-1001.14.15.0-1003.34.15.0-1005.54.15.0-1006.64.15.0-1007.7
Show 11 moreShow less
4.15.0-1009.94.15.0-1010.104.15.0-1011.114.15.0-1016.164.15.0-1017.174.15.0-1019.194.15.0-1020.204.15.0-1021.214.15.0-1023.234.15.0-1025.254.15.0-1027.27
4.15.0-1029.30
linux-azure
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS
before 4.15.0-1035.36, plus listed versions
4.15.0-1002.24.15.0-1003.34.15.0-1004.44.15.0-1008.84.15.0-1009.9
Show 13 moreShow less
4.15.0-1012.124.15.0-1013.134.15.0-1014.144.15.0-1018.184.15.0-1019.194.15.0-1021.214.15.0-1022.234.15.0-1023.244.15.0-1025.264.15.0-1028.294.15.0-1030.314.15.0-1031.324.15.0-1032.33
4.15.0-1035.36
Show 11 moreShow less
Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
linux-gcp
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS
before 4.15.0-1025.26, plus listed versions
4.15.0-1001.14.15.0-1003.34.15.0-1005.54.15.0-1006.64.15.0-1008.8
Show 10 moreShow less
4.15.0-1009.94.15.0-1010.104.15.0-1014.144.15.0-1015.154.15.0-1017.184.15.0-1018.194.15.0-1019.204.15.0-1021.224.15.0-1023.244.15.0-1024.25
4.15.0-1025.26
linux-kvm
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS
before 4.15.0-1027.27, plus listed versions
4.15.0-1002.24.15.0-1003.34.15.0-1004.44.15.0-1006.64.15.0-1008.8
Show 11 moreShow less
4.15.0-1010.104.15.0-1011.114.15.0-1012.124.15.0-1016.164.15.0-1017.174.15.0-1019.194.15.0-1020.204.15.0-1021.214.15.0-1023.234.15.0-1025.254.15.0-1026.26
4.15.0-1027.27
linux-oem
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS
before 4.15.0-1028.33, plus listed versions
4.15.0-1002.34.15.0-1004.54.15.0-1006.94.15.0-1008.114.15.0-1009.12
Show 8 moreShow less
4.15.0-1012.154.15.0-1013.164.15.0-1015.184.15.0-1017.204.15.0-1018.214.15.0-1021.244.15.0-1024.294.15.0-1026.31
4.15.0-1028.33
linux-raspi2
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS
before 4.15.0-1029.31, plus listed versions
4.13.0-1005.54.13.0-1006.64.13.0-1008.84.15.0-1006.74.15.0-1009.10
Show 13 moreShow less
4.15.0-1010.114.15.0-1011.124.15.0-1012.134.15.0-1013.144.15.0-1017.184.15.0-1018.194.15.0-1020.224.15.0-1021.234.15.0-1022.244.15.0-1024.264.15.0-1026.284.15.0-1027.294.15.0-1028.30
4.15.0-1029.31
linux-aws
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 4.15.0-1029.30, plus listed versions
4.15.0-1001.14.15.0-1003.34.15.0-1005.54.15.0-1006.64.15.0-1007.7
Show 11 moreShow less
4.15.0-1009.94.15.0-1010.104.15.0-1011.114.15.0-1016.164.15.0-1017.174.15.0-1019.194.15.0-1020.204.15.0-1021.214.15.0-1023.234.15.0-1025.254.15.0-1027.27
4.15.0-1029.30
linux
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 4.15.0-42.45, plus listed versions
4.13.0-16.194.13.0-17.204.13.0-25.294.13.0-32.354.15.0-10.11
Show 16 moreShow less
4.15.0-12.134.15.0-13.144.15.0-15.164.15.0-19.204.15.0-20.214.15.0-22.244.15.0-23.254.15.0-24.264.15.0-29.314.15.0-30.324.15.0-32.354.15.0-33.364.15.0-34.374.15.0-36.394.15.0-38.414.15.0-39.42
4.15.0-42.45
linux-gcp
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 4.15.0-1025.26, plus listed versions
4.15.0-1001.14.15.0-1003.34.15.0-1005.54.15.0-1006.64.15.0-1008.8
Show 10 moreShow less
4.15.0-1009.94.15.0-1010.104.15.0-1014.144.15.0-1015.154.15.0-1017.184.15.0-1018.194.15.0-1019.204.15.0-1021.224.15.0-1023.244.15.0-1024.25
4.15.0-1025.26
linux-kvm
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 4.15.0-1027.27, plus listed versions
4.15.0-1002.24.15.0-1003.34.15.0-1004.44.15.0-1006.64.15.0-1008.8
Show 11 moreShow less
4.15.0-1010.104.15.0-1011.114.15.0-1012.124.15.0-1016.164.15.0-1017.174.15.0-1019.194.15.0-1020.204.15.0-1021.214.15.0-1023.234.15.0-1025.254.15.0-1026.26
4.15.0-1027.27
linux-raspi2
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 4.15.0-1029.31, plus listed versions
4.13.0-1005.54.13.0-1006.64.13.0-1008.84.15.0-1006.74.15.0-1009.10
Show 13 moreShow less
4.15.0-1010.114.15.0-1011.124.15.0-1012.134.15.0-1013.144.15.0-1017.184.15.0-1018.194.15.0-1020.224.15.0-1021.234.15.0-1022.244.15.0-1024.264.15.0-1026.284.15.0-1027.294.15.0-1028.30
4.15.0-1029.31
linux-gcp
Ubuntu:16.04:LTS
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 4.15.0-1025.26~16.04.1, plus listed versions
4.10.0-1004.44.10.0-1006.64.10.0-1007.74.10.0-1008.84.10.0-1009.9
Show 18 moreShow less
4.13.0-1002.54.13.0-1006.94.13.0-1007.104.13.0-1008.114.13.0-1011.154.13.0-1012.164.13.0-1013.174.13.0-1015.194.13.0-1017.214.13.0-1019.234.15.0-1014.14~16.04.14.15.0-1015.15~16.04.14.15.0-1017.18~16.04.14.15.0-1018.19~16.04.24.15.0-1019.20~16.04.14.15.0-1021.22~16.04.14.15.0-1023.24~16.04.14.15.0-1024.25~16.04.2
4.15.0-1025.26~16.04.1
linux-hwe
Ubuntu:16.04:LTS
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
before 4.15.0-42.45~16.04.1, plus listed versions
4.8.0-36.36~16.04.14.8.0-39.42~16.04.14.8.0-41.44~16.04.14.8.0-42.45~16.04.14.8.0-44.47~16.04.1
Show 38 moreShow less
4.8.0-45.48~16.04.14.8.0-46.49~16.04.14.8.0-49.52~16.04.14.8.0-51.54~16.04.14.8.0-52.55~16.04.14.8.0-53.56~16.04.14.8.0-54.57~16.04.14.8.0-56.61~16.04.14.8.0-58.63~16.04.14.10.0-27.30~16.04.24.10.0-28.32~16.04.24.10.0-30.34~16.04.14.10.0-32.36~16.04.14.10.0-33.37~16.04.14.10.0-35.39~16.04.14.10.0-37.41~16.04.14.10.0-38.42~16.04.14.10.0-40.44~16.04.14.10.0-42.46~16.04.14.13.0-26.29~16.04.24.13.0-31.34~16.04.14.13.0-32.35~16.04.14.13.0-36.40~16.04.14.13.0-37.42~16.04.14.13.0-38.43~16.04.14.13.0-39.44~16.04.14.13.0-41.46~16.04.14.13.0-43.48~16.04.14.13.0-45.50~16.04.14.15.0-24.26~16.04.14.15.0-29.31~16.04.14.15.0-30.32~16.04.14.15.0-32.35~16.04.14.15.0-33.36~16.04.14.15.0-34.37~16.04.14.15.0-36.39~16.04.14.15.0-38.41~16.04.14.15.0-39.42~16.04.1
4.15.0-42.45~16.04.1

Public exploits

Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
affected, exploits, facts
aliasesEUVD
first indexedCVE List, Exploit-DB, GitHub Advisories, Metasploit, NVD, OSV, PoC in GitHub

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2018-18955 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.0) in Linux Kernel, published November 16, 2018. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 7.67%, the 94th percentile. Fixed in linux 4.18.20-1.

References

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