ima: don't clear IMA_DIGSIG flag when setting or removing non-IMA xattr
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 38 fixed, 2 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ima: don't clear IMA_DIGSIG flag when setting or removing non-IMA xattr Currently when both IMA and EVM are in fix mode, the IMA signature will be reset to IMA hash if a program first stores IMA signature in security.ima and then writes/removes some other security xattr for the file. For example, on Fedora, after booting the kernel with "ima_appraise=fix evm=fix ima_policy=appraise_tcb" and installing rpm-plugin-ima, installing/reinstalling a package will not make good reference IMA signature generated. Instead IMA hash is generated, # getfattr -m - -d -e hex /usr/bin/bash # file: usr/bin/bash security.ima=0x0404... This happens because when setting security.selinux, the IMA_DIGSIG flag that had been set early was cleared. As a result, IMA hash is generated when the file is closed. Similarly, IMA signature can be cleared on file close after removing security xattr like security.evm or setting/removing ACL. Prevent replacing the IMA file signature with a file hash, by preventing the IMA_DIGSIG flag from being reset. Here's a minimal C reproducer which sets security.selinux as the last step which can also replaced by removing security.evm or setting ACL, #include <stdio.h> #include <sys/xattr.h> #include <fcntl.h> #include <unistd.h> #include <string.h> #include <stdlib.h> int main() { const char* file_path = "/usr/sbin/test_binary"; const char* hex_string = "030204d33204490066306402304"; int length = strlen(hex_string); char* ima_attr_value; int fd; fd = open(file_path, O_WRONLY|O_CREAT|O_EXCL, 0644); if (fd == -1) { perror("Error opening file"); return 1; } ima_attr_value = (char*)malloc(length / 2 ); for (int i = 0, j = 0; i < length; i += 2, j++) { sscanf(hex_string + i, "%2hhx", &ima_attr_value[j]); } if (fsetxattr(fd, "security.ima", ima_attr_value, length/2, 0) == -1) { perror("Error setting extended attribute"); close(fd); return 1; } const char* selinux_value= "system_u:object_r:bin_t:s0"; if (fsetxattr(fd, "security.selinux", selinux_value, strlen(selinux_value), 0) == -1) { perror("Error setting extended attribute"); close(fd); return 1; } close(fd); return 0; }
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.1.191, 6.6.117, 6.12.58, 6.17.8, 6.18
Red Hat 12 advisories
- RHSA-2026:47633 Released 2026-07-30 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v.8.4) bpftool-4.18.0-305.199.1.el8_4, kernel-4.18.0-305.199.1.el8_4, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-305.199.1.el8_4 +14
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS EXTENSION (v.8.4) bpftool-4.18.0-305.199.1.el8_4, kernel-4.18.0-305.199.1.el8_4, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-305.199.1.el8_4 +14
- RHSA-2026:40760 Released 2026-07-16 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.8.8) bpftool-4.18.0-477.152.1.el8_8, kernel-4.18.0-477.152.1.el8_8, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-477.152.1.el8_8 +14
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS TUS (v.8.8) bpftool-4.18.0-477.152.1.el8_8, kernel-4.18.0-477.152.1.el8_8, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-477.152.1.el8_8 +14
- RHSA-2026:40068 Released 2026-07-15 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v.8.6) bpftool-4.18.0-372.201.1.el8_6, kernel-4.18.0-372.201.1.el8_6, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-372.201.1.el8_6 +14
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS EXTENSION (v.8.6) bpftool-4.18.0-372.201.1.el8_6, kernel-4.18.0-372.201.1.el8_6, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-372.201.1.el8_6 +14
Show 9 more Red Hat advisories
- RHSA-2026:39371 Released 2026-07-14 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v. 10.0) kernel-64k-debug-devel-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0, kernel-64k-devel-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0 +12
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v. 10.0) kernel-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0, kernel-64k-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0, kernel-64k-core-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0 +28
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v. 10.0) kernel-tools-libs-devel-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0, libperf-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v. 10.0) kernel-rt-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-64k-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-64k-core-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0 +21
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v. 10.0) kernel-rt-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-core-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-debug-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0 +11
- RHSA-2026:38902 Released 2026-07-13 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.9.6) kernel-tools-libs-devel-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6, libperf-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.6) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6 +12
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.6) kernel-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-core-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6 +28
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v.9.6) kernel-rt-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-64k-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-64k-core-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6 +21
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v.9.6) kernel-rt-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6 +11
- RHSA-2026:36767 Released 2026-07-08 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.4) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-427.136.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-427.136.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-427.136.1.el9_4 +11
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.9.4) bpftool-7.3.0-427.136.1.el9_4, kernel-5.14.0-427.136.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-5.14.0-427.136.1.el9_4 +29
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time E4S (v.9.4) kernel-rt-5.14.0-427.136.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-427.136.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-427.136.1.el9_4 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV E4S (v.9.4) kernel-rt-5.14.0-427.136.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-427.136.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-427.136.1.el9_4 +11
- RHSA-2026:36073 Released 2026-07-07 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.2) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-284.179.1.el9_2, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-284.179.1.el9_2, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-284.179.1.el9_2 +10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.9.2) bpftool-7.0.0-284.179.1.el9_2, kernel-5.14.0-284.179.1.el9_2, kernel-64k-5.14.0-284.179.1.el9_2 +29
- RHSA-2026:35904 Released 2026-07-06 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel-rt security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time E4S (v.9.2) kernel-rt-5.14.0-284.179.1.rt14.464.el9_2, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-284.179.1.rt14.464.el9_2, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-284.179.1.rt14.464.el9_2 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV E4S (v.9.2) kernel-rt-5.14.0-284.179.1.rt14.464.el9_2, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-284.179.1.rt14.464.el9_2, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-284.179.1.rt14.464.el9_2 +11
- RHSA-2026:21745 Released 2026-05-28 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel-rt security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-553.126.1.rt7.467.el8_10, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-553.126.1.rt7.467.el8_10, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-553.126.1.rt7.467.el8_10 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-553.126.1.rt7.467.el8_10, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-553.126.1.rt7.467.el8_10, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-553.126.1.rt7.467.el8_10 +7
- RHSA-2026:21706 Released 2026-05-28 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) bpftool-4.18.0-553.126.1.el8_10, kernel-4.18.0-553.126.1.el8_10, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-553.126.1.el8_10 +19
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.18.0-553.126.1.el8_10
- RHSA-2026:21556 Released 2026-05-28 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-687.12.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-687.12.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-687.12.1.el9_8 +12
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) kernel-5.14.0-687.12.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-5.14.0-687.12.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-core-5.14.0-687.12.1.el9_8 +28
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) kernel-tools-libs-devel-5.14.0-687.12.1.el9_8, libperf-5.14.0-687.12.1.el9_8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-687.12.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-64k-5.14.0-687.12.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-64k-core-5.14.0-687.12.1.el9_8 +21
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-687.12.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-687.12.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-687.12.1.el9_8 +9
- RHSA-2026:21557 Released 2026-05-28 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) kernel-64k-debug-devel-6.12.0-211.18.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-6.12.0-211.18.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-devel-6.12.0-211.18.1.el10_2 +12
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) kernel-6.12.0-211.18.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-6.12.0-211.18.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-core-6.12.0-211.18.1.el10_2 +29
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) kernel-tools-libs-devel-6.12.0-211.18.1.el10_2, libperf-6.12.0-211.18.1.el10_2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 10) kernel-rt-6.12.0-211.18.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-64k-6.12.0-211.18.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-64k-core-6.12.0-211.18.1.el10_2 +21
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10) kernel-rt-6.12.0-211.18.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-core-6.12.0-211.18.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-debug-6.12.0-211.18.1.el10_2 +9
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.9.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:38902 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:21557 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:21556 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:36073 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:36767 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v. 10.0) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:39371 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:38902 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:21557 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:21706 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:21556 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v.8.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:47633 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v.8.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:40068 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.8.8) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:40760 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.9.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:36073 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.9.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:36767 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v. 10.0) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:39371 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:38902 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS EXTENSION (v.8.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:47633 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS EXTENSION (v.8.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:40068 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS TUS (v.8.8) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:40760 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:21706 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:21557 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:21556 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v. 10.0) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:39371 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:21745 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:21745 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:21557 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:21556 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time E4S (v.9.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:35904 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time E4S (v.9.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:36767 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v. 10.0) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:39371 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v.9.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:38902 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:21557 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:21556 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV E4S (v.9.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:35904 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV E4S (v.9.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:36767 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v. 10.0) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:39371 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v.9.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:38902 |
Not affected: 2 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-68183
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-w26q-x7h4-9gc5
- 2026-10-16 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-10-30 Fix available: Linux/[email protected], Linux/Linux@7d9ae9d4d45b28c18ca06ae047aabe09d9639643 · CNA
- 2026-10-30 1 new reference · CNA
References
Other 5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7d9ae9d4d45b28c18ca06ae047aabe09d9639643
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d2993a7e98eb70c737c6f5365a190e79c72b8407
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/edd824eb45e4f7e05ad3ab090dab6dbdb79cd292
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/02aa671c08a4834bef5166743a7b88686fbfa023
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/88b4cbcf6b041ae0f2fc8a34554a5b6a83a2b7cd
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Sources
- CVE-2025-68183 · CVE Program
- CVE-2025-68183 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-w26q-x7h4-9gc5 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2025-68183 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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