CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2025-68803NVD status: Deferred

Linux: Incorrect Authorization

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2025-68803 is a high-severity incorrect authorization vulnerability in Linux, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.0 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, but only if a user takes part, for example by opening a link or file. The record lists versions c182e1e0b7640f6bcc0c5ca8d473f7c57199ea3d, 75f91534f9acdfef77f8fa094313b7806f801725, 60dbdef2ebc2317266a385e4debdb1bb0e57afe1 as the first without the flaw, so updating Linux to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.45% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update Linux to c182e1e0b7640f6bcc0c5ca8d473f7c57199ea3d or 75f91534f9acdfef77f8fa094313b7806f801725 or 60dbdef2ebc2317266a385e4debdb1bb0e57afe1 or 381261f24f4e4b41521c0e5ef5cc0b9a786a9862, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  2. Because the attack needs a user to take part, warn users about unexpected links and files related to this product until it is patched.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
LinuxLinuxc5409ce523af40d5c3019717bc5b4f72038d48be up to, but not including, c182e1e0b7640f6bcc0c5ca8d473f7c57199ea3d; d52acd23a327cada5fb597591267cfc09f08bb1d up to, but not including, 75f91534f9acdfef77f8fa094313b7806f801725; c0cbe70742f4a70893cd6e5f6b10b6e89b6db95b up to, but not including, 60dbdef2ebc2317266a385e4debdb1bb0e57afe1; c0cbe70742f4a70893cd6e5f6b10b6e89b6db95b up to, but not including, 381261f24f4e4b41521c0e5ef5cc0b9a786a9862; c0cbe70742f4a70893cd6e5f6b10b6e89b6db95b up to, but not including, bf4e671c651534a307ab2fabba4926116beef8c3; c0cbe70742f4a70893cd6e5f6b10b6e89b6db95b up to, but not including, 214b396480061cbc8b16f2c518b2add7fbfa5192; c0cbe70742f4a70893cd6e5f6b10b6e89b6db95b up to, but not including, 913f7cf77bf14c13cfea70e89bcb6d0b22239562; 5.10.220 up to, but not including, 5.10.248; and 2 more rangesc182e1e0b7640f6bcc0c5ca8d473f7c57199ea3d, 75f91534f9acdfef77f8fa094313b7806f801725, 60dbdef2ebc2317266a385e4debdb1bb0e57afe1, 381261f24f4e4b41521c0e5ef5cc0b9a786a9862, bf4e671c651534a307ab2fabba4926116beef8c3, 214b396480061cbc8b16f2c518b2add7fbfa5192
SiemensSIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP (6ES7518-4AX00-1AB0)V3.1.6 and later; V3.1.7 and laterNot stated
SiemensSIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP (6ES7518-4AX00-1AC0)V3.1.6 and later; V3.1.7 and laterNot stated
SiemensSIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518F-4 PN/DP MFP (6ES7518-4FX00-1AB0)V3.1.6 and later; V3.1.7 and laterNot stated
SiemensSIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518F-4 PN/DP MFP (6ES7518-4FX00-1AC0)V3.1.6 and later; V3.1.7 and laterNot stated
SiemensSIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP (6AG1518-4AX00-4AC0)V3.1.6 and later; V3.1.7 and laterNot stated

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
LowA basic user account is enough.
User interaction
RequiredA user must take an action such as opening a file or link.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA.

Official description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: NFSD: NFSv4 file creation neglects setting ACL An NFSv4 client that sets an ACL with a named principal during file creation retrieves the ACL afterwards, and finds that it is only a default ACL (based on the mode bits) and not the ACL that was requested during file creation. This violates RFC 8881 section 6.4.1.3: "the ACL attribute is set as given". The issue occurs in nfsd_create_setattr(), which calls nfsd_attrs_valid() to determine whether to call nfsd_setattr(). However, nfsd_attrs_valid() checks only for iattr changes and security labels, but not POSIX ACLs. When only an ACL is present, the function returns false, nfsd_setattr() is skipped, and the POSIX ACL is never applied to the inode. Subsequently, when the client retrieves the ACL, the server finds no POSIX ACL on the inode and returns one generated from the file's mode bits rather than returning the originally-specified ACL.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Incorrect Authorization

The product performs an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action, but it does not correctly perform the check.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Divide the product into anonymous, normal, privileged, and administrative areas. Reduce the attack surface by carefully mapping roles with data and functionality. Use role-based access control (RBAC) to enforce the roles at the appropriate boundaries. Note that this approach may not protect against horizontal authorization, i.e., it will not protect a user from attacking others with the same role.
  • Ensure that access control checks are performed related to the business logic. These checks may be different than the access control checks that are applied to more generic resources such as files, connections, processes, memory, and database records. For example, a database may restrict access for medical records to a specific database user, but each record might only be intended to be accessible to the patient and the patient's doctor.
  • Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. For example, consider using authorization frameworks such as the JAAS Authorization Framework and the OWASP ESAPI Access Control feature.

More Incorrect Authorization vulnerabilities (CWE-863)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Recent Incorrect Authorization vulnerabilities

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