CVE-2025-68740

ima: Handle error code returned by ima_filter_rule_match()

Published Dec 24, 2025 CVSS 3.1 · 5.5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

ima: Handle error code returned by ima_filter_rule_match()

In ima_match_rules(), if ima_filter_rule_match() returns -ENOENT due to
the rule being NULL, the function incorrectly skips the 'if (!rc)' check
and sets 'result = true'. The LSM rule is considered a match, causing
extra files to be measured by IMA.

This issue can be reproduced in the following scenario:
After unloading the SELinux policy module via 'semodule -d', if an IMA
measurement is triggered before ima_lsm_rules is updated,
in ima_match_rules(), the first call to ima_filter_rule_match() returns
-ESTALE. This causes the code to enter the 'if (rc == -ESTALE &&
!rule_reinitialized)' block, perform ima_lsm_copy_rule() and retry. In
ima_lsm_copy_rule(), since the SELinux module has been removed, the rule
becomes NULL, and the second call to ima_filter_rule_match() returns
-ENOENT. This bypasses the 'if (!rc)' check and results in a false match.

Call trace:
selinux_audit_rule_match+0x310/0x3b8
security_audit_rule_match+0x60/0xa0
ima_match_rules+0x2e4/0x4a0
ima_match_policy+0x9c/0x1e8
ima_get_action+0x48/0x60
process_measurement+0xf8/0xa98
ima_bprm_check+0x98/0xd8
security_bprm_check+0x5c/0x78
search_binary_handler+0x6c/0x318
exec_binprm+0x58/0x1b8
bprm_execve+0xb8/0x130
do_execveat_common.isra.0+0x1a8/0x258
__arm64_sys_execve+0x48/0x68
invoke_syscall+0x50/0x128
el0_svc_common.constprop.0+0xc8/0xf0
do_el0_svc+0x24/0x38
el0_svc+0x44/0x200
el0t_64_sync_handler+0x100/0x130
el0t_64_sync+0x3c8/0x3d0

Fix this by changing 'if (!rc)' to 'if (rc <= 0)' to ensure that error
codes like -ENOENT do not bypass the check and accidentally result in a
successful match.

Analysis

No analysis available yet

Remediation

No remediation available yet

Tracking

Sign in to view the affected projects.

Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4475-1 linux security update
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4476-1 linux-6.1 security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6127-1 linux security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8094-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8096-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8096-2 Linux kernel (FIPS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8094-2 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8096-3 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8096-4 Linux kernel (Real-time) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8096-5 Linux kernel (NVIDIA Tegra IGX) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8116-1 Linux kernel (Intel IoTG Real-time) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8094-3 Linux kernel (Real-time) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8094-4 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8094-5 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8141-1 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8152-1 Linux kernel (OEM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8163-1 Linux kernel (Azure FIPS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8163-2 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8179-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8184-1 Linux kernel (Real-time) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8179-2 Linux kernel (FIPS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8185-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8179-3 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8203-1 Linux kernel (Oracle) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8204-1 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi Real-time) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8185-2 Linux kernel (Low Latency NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8179-4 Linux kernel (GCP) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8243-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8258-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8260-1 Linux kernel (Azure FIPS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8261-1 Linux kernel (Xilinx) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8265-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA Tegra) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8440-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Low

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ima: Handle error code returned by ima_filter_rule_match() In ima_match_rules(), if ima_filter_rule_match() returns -ENOENT due to the rule being NULL, the function incorrectly skips the 'if (!rc)' check and sets 'result = true'. The LSM rule is considered a match, causing extra files to be measured by IMA. This issue can be reproduced in the following scenario: After unloading the SELinux policy module via 'semodule -d', if an IMA measurement is triggered before ima_lsm_rules is updated, in ima_match_rules(), the first call to ima_filter_rule_match() returns -ESTALE. This causes the code to enter the 'if (rc == -ESTALE && !rule_reinitialized)' block, perform ima_lsm_copy_rule() and retry. In ima_lsm_copy_rule(), since the SELinux module has been removed, the rule becomes NULL, and the second call to ima_filter_rule_match() returns -ENOENT. This bypasses the 'if (!rc)' check and results in a false match. Call trace: selinux_audit_rule_match+0x310/0x3b8 security_audit_rule_match+0x60/0xa0 ima_match_rules+0x2e4/0x4a0 ima_match_policy+0x9c/0x1e8 ima_get_action+0x48/0x60 process_measurement+0xf8/0xa98 ima_bprm_check+0x98/0xd8 security_bprm_check+0x5c/0x78 search_binary_handler+0x6c/0x318 exec_binprm+0x58/0x1b8 bprm_execve+0xb8/0x130 do_execveat_common.isra.0+0x1a8/0x258 __arm64_sys_execve+0x48/0x68 invoke_syscall+0x50/0x128 el0_svc_common.constprop.0+0xc8/0xf0 do_el0_svc+0x24/0x38 el0_svc+0x44/0x200 el0t_64_sync_handler+0x100/0x130 el0t_64_sync+0x3c8/0x3d0 Fix this by changing 'if (!rc)' to 'if (rc <= 0)' to ensure that error codes like -ENOENT do not bypass the check and accidentally result in a successful match.
Title ima: Handle error code returned by ima_filter_rule_match()
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References
Weaknesses

No weakness.

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
Jun 16, 2026, 7:20 PM
Reserved
Dec 24, 2025, 10:30 AM
Status
Deferred
Published
Dec 24, 2025, 1:16 PM
Modified
Oct 5, 2026, 2:10 PM
Severity
Low
Public date
Dec 24, 2025, 12:00 AM