CVE-2018-18955
7.0 · HIGHOverview
CVE-2018-18955 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting linux linux_kernel. It was published on November 16, 2018 and has a CVSS 3.0 base score of 7.0 (HIGH).
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.0 base score of 7.0, rated HIGH. It requires local or adjacent network access to exploit. Some level of privileges is required for exploitation.
Technical Description
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.
Remediation
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from linux. Update linux_kernel to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| linux | linux_kernel | >= 4.15, < 4.19.2 | Affected |
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2018-18955?
CVE-2018-18955 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting linux linux_kernel. It was published on November 16, 2018 and has a CVSS 3.0 base score of 7.0 (HIGH).
How severe is CVE-2018-18955?
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.0 base score of 7.0, rated HIGH. It requires local or adjacent network access to exploit. Some level of privileges is required for exploitation.
How do I fix or remediate CVE-2018-18955?
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from linux. Update linux_kernel to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2018-18955?
CyberStrike's AI-powered security agents can automatically detect CVE-2018-18955 across your infrastructure using autonomous pentesting, DAST scanning, and HackBrowser. The platform continuously monitors for known vulnerabilities and provides actionable remediation guidance prioritized by real-world exploitability.
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