CVE-2020-35501

Audit-trail bypass via unlogged handle-based file access

Published Mar 30, 2022 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Audit-rule bypass in Linux Kernel through 5.17 allows local users with elevated privileges to access files without file-watch records. Path-based audit rules do not associate open_by_handle_at access with the watched pathname, so the audit subsystem omits the event. CAP_DAC_READ_SEARCH is required; the flaw hides activity from path watches but grants no additional file access.

CVSS severity3.4
Low
EPSS probability0.24%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Audit-rule bypass in Linux Kernel through 5.17 allows local users with elevated privileges to access files without file-watch records. Path-based audit rules do not associate open_by_handle_at access with the watched pathname, so the audit subsystem omits the event. CAP_DAC_READ_SEARCH is required; the flaw hides activity from path watches but grants no additional file access.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-35501
Published
Mar 30, 2022
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-863
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 30, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=affecting all versions up to kernel 5.17

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=affecting all versions up to kernel 5.17

Published CVSS scores

3.4NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
3.6NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-863Incorrect Authorization

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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