IMA signature replacement via unrelated xattr changes
Published Dec 16, 2025 · Updated Dec 16, 2025
Integrity-state corruption in Linux IMA allows local users to replace stored file signatures with hashes through unrelated xattr or ACL changes. ima_reset_appraise_flags treats non-IMA attribute updates as a request to clear IMA_DIGSIG, so file close invokes ima_update_xattr and overwrites the signature. Both IMA and EVM must run in fix mode, and the user must be able to change the relevant file attributes; the resulting hash no longer preserves the signed reference.
Summary
What happened
Integrity-state corruption in Linux IMA allows local users to replace stored file signatures with hashes through unrelated xattr or ACL changes. ima_reset_appraise_flags treats non-IMA attribute updates as a request to clear IMA_DIGSIG, so file close invokes ima_update_xattr and overwrites the signature. Both IMA and EVM must run in fix mode, and the user must be able to change the relevant file attributes; the resulting hash no longer preserves the signed reference.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-68183
- Published
- Dec 16, 2025
- Updated
- Dec 16, 2025
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- Unavailable
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 16, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Dec 16, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
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- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <02aa671c08a4834bef5166743a7b88686fbfa023
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <88b4cbcf6b041ae0f2fc8a34554a5b6a83a2b7cd
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <d2993a7e98eb70c737c6f5365a190e79c72b8407
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <edd824eb45e4f7e05ad3ab090dab6dbdb79cd292
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
No sourced classifications are available.
Public exploit references
- Linux IMA non-IMA xattr minimal reproducerproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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