--- title: "CVE-2013-1959\n | Ubuntu" description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things. url: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2013-1959?format=md keywords: index, follow --- # CVE-2013-1959 Publication date 26 April 2013 Last updated 4 July 2026 --- Ubuntu priority **High** [Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority ) Toggle side navigation ## Description kernel/user\_namespace.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9 does not have appropriate capability requirements for the uid\_map and gid\_map files, which allows local users to gain privileges by opening a file within an unprivileged process and then modifying the file within a privileged process. ### From the Ubuntu Security Team Andy Lutomirski discovered a privilege escalation in the Linux kernel's user namespaces. A local user could exploit the flaw to gain administrative privileges. [Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2013-1959?format=md#notes) ## Status Show unmaintained releases | Package | Ubuntu Release | Status | | --- | --- | --- | | linux | 17.04 zesty | Not affected | | 16.10 yakkety | Not affected | | 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected | | 15.10 wily | Not affected | | 15.04 vivid | Not affected | | 14.10 utopic | Not affected | | 14.04 LTS trusty | Not affected | | 13.10 saucy | Not affected | | 13.04 raring | Fixed 3.8.0-19.30 | | 12.10 quantal | Not affected | | 12.04 LTS precise | Not affected | | 11.10 oneiric | Not affected | | 10.04 LTS lucid | Not affected | | 8.04 LTS hardy | Not affected | | linux-armadaxp | 17.04 zesty | Not in release | | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release | | 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | | 15.10 wily | Not in release | | 15.04 vivid | Not in release | | 14.10 utopic | Not in release | | 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | | 13.10 saucy | Not in release | | 13.04 raring | Not in release | | 12.10 quantal | Not affected | | 12.04 LTS precise | Not affected | | 11.10 oneiric | Not in release | | 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release | | 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release | | linux-aws | 17.04 zesty | Not in release | | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release | | 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected | | 14.04 LTS trusty | Not affected | | 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release | | linux-ec2 | 17.04 zesty | Not in release | | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release | | 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | | 15.10 wily | Not in release | | 15.04 vivid | Not in release | | 14.10 utopic | Not in release | | 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | | 13.10 saucy | Not in release | | 13.04 raring | Not in release | | 12.10 quantal | Not in release | | 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release | | 11.10 oneiric | Not in release | | 10.04 LTS lucid | Not affected | | 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release | | linux-flo | 17.04 zesty | Not in release | | 16.10 yakkety | Not affected | | 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | | 15.10 wily | Not affected | | 15.04 vivid | Not affected | | 14.10 utopic | Not affected | | 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | | 13.10 saucy | Not in release | | 12.10 quantal | Not in release | | 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release | | 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release | | linux-fsl-imx51 | 17.04 zesty | Not in release | | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release | | 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | | 15.10 wily | Not in release | | 15.04 vivid | Not in release | | 14.10 utopic | Not in release | | 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | | 13.10 saucy | Not in release | | 13.04 raring | Not in release | | 12.10 quantal | Not in release | | 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release | | 11.10 oneiric | Not in release | | 10.04 LTS lucid | Ignored end of life | | 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release | | linux-gke | 17.04 zesty | Not in release | | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release | | 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected | | 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | | 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release | | linux-goldfish | 17.04 zesty | Not affected | | 16.10 yakkety | Not affected | | 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | | 15.10 wily | Not affected | | 15.04 vivid | Not affected | | 14.10 utopic | Not affected | | 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | | 13.10 saucy | Ignored | | 12.10 quantal | Not in release | | 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release | | 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release | | linux-grouper | 17.04 zesty | Not in release | | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release | | 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | | 15.10 wily | Not in release | | 15.04 vivid | Not in release | | 14.10 utopic | Ignored end of life | | 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | | 13.10 saucy | Ignored | | 12.10 quantal | Not in release | | 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release | | 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release | | linux-hwe | 17.04 zesty | Not in release | | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release | | 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected | | 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | | 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release | | linux-hwe-edge | 17.04 zesty | Not in release | | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release | | 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected | | 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | | 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release | | linux-linaro-omap | 17.04 zesty | Not in release | | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release | | 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | | 15.10 wily | Not in release | | 15.04 vivid | Not in release | | 14.10 utopic | Not in release | | 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | | 13.10 saucy | Not in release | | 13.04 raring | Not in release | | 12.10 quantal | Ignored end of life | | 12.04 LTS precise | Ignored end of life | | 11.10 oneiric | Ignored end of life | | 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release | | 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release | | linux-linaro-shared | 17.04 zesty | Not in release | | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release | | 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | | 15.10 wily | Not in release | | 15.04 vivid | Not in release | | 14.10 utopic | Not in release | | 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | | 13.10 saucy | Not in release | | 13.04 raring | Not in release | | 12.10 quantal | Ignored end of life | | 12.04 LTS precise | Ignored end of life | | 11.10 oneiric | Ignored end of life | | 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release | | 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release | | linux-linaro-vexpress | 17.04 zesty | Not in release | | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release | | 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | | 15.10 wily | Not in release | | 15.04 vivid | Not in release | | 14.10 utopic | Not in release | | 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | | 13.10 saucy | Not in release | | 13.04 raring | Not in release | | 12.10 quantal | Ignored end of life | | 12.04 LTS precise | Ignored end of life | | 11.10 oneiric | Ignored end of life | | 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release | | 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release | | linux-lts-backport-maverick | 17.04 zesty | Not in release | | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release | | 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | | 15.10 wily | Not in release | | 15.04 vivid | Not in release | | 14.10 utopic | Not in release | | 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | | 13.10 saucy | Not in release | | 13.04 raring | Not in release | | 12.10 quantal | Not in release | | 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release | | 11.10 oneiric | Not in release | | 10.04 LTS lucid | Ignored end of life | | 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release | | linux-lts-backport-oneiric | 17.04 zesty | Not in release | | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release | | 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | | 15.10 wily | Not in release | | 15.04 vivid | Not in release | | 14.10 utopic | Not in release | | 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | | 13.10 saucy | Not in release | | 13.04 raring | Not in release | | 12.10 quantal | Not in release | | 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release | | 11.10 oneiric | Not in release | | 10.04 LTS lucid | Not affected | | 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release | | linux-lts-quantal | 17.04 zesty | Not in release | | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release | | 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | | 15.10 wily | Not in release | | 15.04 vivid | Not in release | | 14.10 utopic | Not in release | | 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | | 13.10 saucy | Not in release | | 13.04 raring | Not in release | | 12.10 quantal | Not in release | | 12.04 LTS precise | Not affected | | 11.10 oneiric | Not in release | | 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release | | 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release | | linux-lts-raring | 17.04 zesty | Not in release | | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release | | 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | | 15.10 wily | Not in release | | 15.04 vivid | Not in release | | 14.10 utopic | Not in release | | 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | | 13.10 saucy | Not in release | | 13.04 raring | Not in release | | 12.10 quantal | Not in release | | 12.04 LTS precise | Not affected | | 11.10 oneiric | Not in release | | 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release | | 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release | | linux-lts-trusty | 17.04 zesty | Not in release | | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release | | 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | | 15.10 wily | Not in release | | 15.04 vivid | Not in release | | 14.10 utopic | Not in release | | 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | | 13.10 saucy | Not in release | | 12.04 LTS precise | Not affected | | 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release | | linux-lts-utopic | 17.04 zesty | Not in release | | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release | | 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | | 15.10 wily | Not in release | | 15.04 vivid | Not in release | | 14.10 utopic | Not in release | | 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | | 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release | | 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release | | linux-lts-vivid | 17.04 zesty | Not in release | | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release | | 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | | 15.10 wily | Not in release | | 15.04 vivid | Not in release | | 14.10 utopic | Not in release | | 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | | 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release | | 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release | | linux-lts-wily | 17.04 zesty | Not in release | | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release | | 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | | 15.10 wily | Not in release | | 15.04 vivid | Not in release | | 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | | 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release | | linux-lts-xenial | 17.04 zesty | Not in release | | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release | | 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | | 15.10 wily | Not in release | | 15.04 vivid | Not in release | | 14.04 LTS trusty | Not affected | | 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release | | linux-maguro | 17.04 zesty | Not in release | | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release | | 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | | 15.10 wily | Not in release | | 15.04 vivid | Not in release | | 14.10 utopic | Not in release | | 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | | 13.10 saucy | Ignored | | 12.10 quantal | Not in release | | 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release | | 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release | | linux-mako | 17.04 zesty | Not in release | | 16.10 yakkety | Not affected | | 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | | 15.10 wily | Not affected | | 15.04 vivid | Not affected | | 14.10 utopic | Not affected | | 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | | 13.10 saucy | Ignored | | 12.10 quantal | Not in release | | 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release | | 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release | | linux-manta | 17.04 zesty | Not in release | | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release | | 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | | 15.10 wily | Not affected | | 15.04 vivid | Not affected | | 14.10 utopic | Not affected | | 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | | 13.10 saucy | Ignored | | 12.10 quantal | Not in release | | 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release | | 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release | | linux-mvl-dove | 17.04 zesty | Not in release | | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release | | 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | | 15.10 wily | Not in release | | 15.04 vivid | Not in release | | 14.10 utopic | Not in release | | 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | | 13.10 saucy | Not in release | | 13.04 raring | Not in release | | 12.10 quantal | Not in release | | 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release | | 11.10 oneiric | Not in release | | 10.04 LTS lucid | Ignored end of life | | 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release | | linux-qcm-msm | 17.04 zesty | Not in release | | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release | | 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | | 15.10 wily | Not in release | | 15.04 vivid | Not in release | | 14.10 utopic | Not in release | | 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | | 13.10 saucy | Not in release | | 13.04 raring | Not in release | | 12.10 quantal | Ignored end of life | | 12.04 LTS precise | Ignored end of life | | 11.10 oneiric | Ignored end of life | | 10.04 LTS lucid | Ignored end of life | | 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release | | linux-raspi2 | 17.04 zesty | Not affected | | 16.10 yakkety | Not affected | | 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected | | 15.10 wily | Not affected | | 15.04 vivid | Not in release | | 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | | 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release | | linux-snapdragon | 17.04 zesty | Not affected | | 16.10 yakkety | Not affected | | 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected | | 15.10 wily | Not in release | | 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | | 12.04 LTS precise | Not in release | | linux-ti-omap4 | 17.04 zesty | Not in release | | 16.10 yakkety | Not in release | | 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release | | 15.10 wily | Not in release | | 15.04 vivid | Not in release | | 14.10 utopic | Not in release | | 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release | | 13.10 saucy | Not affected | | 13.04 raring | Not affected | | 12.10 quantal | Not affected | | 12.04 LTS precise | Not affected | | 11.10 oneiric | Not affected | | 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release | | 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release | --- * [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security) * [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses) * [Patch details](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2013-1959?format=md#patch-details) ## Notes --- ### [jj](https://launchpad.net/~jj) break commit 771b1371686e0a63e938ada28de020b9a0040f55 is the commit where user namespaces where enabled, and may not be the actual commit that causes the specific breakage, but they where not available to cause the CVE before this commit. ### Patch details For informational purposes only. We recommend not to cherry-pick updates. [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security) | Package | Patch details | | --- | --- | | linux | * Introduced by [771b137](https://git.kernel.org/linus/771b1371686e0a63e938ada28de020b9a0040f55), fixed by [935d8aa](https://git.kernel.org/linus/935d8aabd4331f47a89c3e1daa5779d23cf244ee) * Introduced by [771b137](https://git.kernel.org/linus/771b1371686e0a63e938ada28de020b9a0040f55), fixed by [6708075](https://git.kernel.org/linus/6708075f104c3c9b04b23336bb0366ca30c3931b) * Introduced by [771b137](https://git.kernel.org/linus/771b1371686e0a63e938ada28de020b9a0040f55), fixed by [e3211c1](https://git.kernel.org/linus/e3211c120a85b792978bcb4be7b2886df18d27f0) | ## References * [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2013-1959) * [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-1959) * [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2013-1959) * [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2013-1959) ### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) + [USN-1815-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-1815-1) + Linux kernel vulnerabilities + 2 May 2013 ### Other references *