CVE-2026-98215
selinux: preserve user SID across nested backing files
- State
- Published
- Severity
- Not scored
- Published
- Oct 6, 2026
- Updated
- Oct 19, 2026
- Reserved
- Sep 25, 2026
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
selinux: preserve user SID across nested backing files
SELinux saves the user file SID in a backing-file security blob so it remains available after mmap() replaces vma->vm_file with a backing file.
For nested backing files (overlayfs over overlayfs, or FUSE passthrough backed by overlayfs), user_file may itself be a backing file. Its fsec->sid is the SID of the mounter that opened it, rather than the user that opened the top-level file. mprotect() then checks fd { use } against the mounter SID. This can incorrectly deny access without a domain transition, or check the wrong target SID after one.
Copy the saved user SID when user_file is a backing file. Keep using the regular file SID for the first backing layer.
With two nested overlayfs mounts and SELinux enforcing, mprotect(PROT_READ) returns EACCES with an fd { use } denial against the mounter SID. With this change, mprotect() succeeds.
Tested on arm64 QEMU with a small BusyBox initramfs and a purpose-built SELinux policy. The original test was also repeated with Fedora Cloud Base 44 userspace and gave the same result.
Scores
The record has no CVSS score.
Weaknesses
The record names no weakness.
Affected Products
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
LinuxLinux |
|
LinuxLinux |
|
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/caa1b913d90d5dc07073733326d2af0f0288f089
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6aaeec59aadcd1eafc18b049f1b759fb6b9d9569
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9d99b770e7b67b00bdef9005b928aad13e1d679b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ff20d16b2e8230c034e21540043df47222dcc09b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8c0c602202b9a4909b00bc3354e3c0355bc69e65
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