CVE-2025-68736: landlock: Fix handling of disconnected directories
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
landlock: Fix handling of disconnected directories
Disconnected files or directories can appear when they are visible and
opened from a bind mount, but have been renamed or moved from the source
of the bind mount in a way that makes them inaccessible from the mount
point (i.e. out of scope).
Previously, access rights tied to files or directories opened through a
disconnected directory were collected by walking the related hierarchy
down to the root of the filesystem, without taking into account the
mount point because it couldn't be found. This could lead to
inconsistent access results, potential access right widening, and
hard-to-debug renames, especially since such paths cannot be printed.
For a sandboxed task to create a disconnected directory, it needs to
have write access (i.e. FS_MAKE_REG, FS_REMOVE_FILE, and FS_REFER) to
the underlying source of the bind mount, and read access to the related
mount point. Because a sandboxed task cannot acquire more access
rights than those defined by its Landlock domain, this could lead to
inconsistent access rights due to missing permissions that should be
inherited from the mount point hierarchy, while inheriting permissions
from the filesystem hierarchy hidden by this mount point instead.
Landlock now handles files and directories opened from disconnected
directories by taking into account the filesystem hierarchy when the
mount point is not found in the hierarchy walk, and also always taking
into account the mount point from which these disconnected directories
were opened. This ensures that a rename is not allowed if it would
widen access rights [1].
The rationale is that, even if disconnected hierarchies might not be
visible or accessible to a sandboxed task, relying on the collected
access rights from them improves the guarantee that access rights will
not be widened during a rename because of the access right comparison
between the source and the destination (see LANDLOCK_ACCESS_FS_REFER).
It may look like this would grant more access on disconnected files and
directories, but the security policies are always enforced for all the
evaluated hierarchies. This new behavior should be less surprising to
users and safer from an access control perspective.
Remove a wrong WARN_ON_ONCE() canary in collect_domain_accesses() and
fix the related comment.
Because opened files have their access rights stored in the related file
security properties, there is no impact for disconnected or unlinked
files.
Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This Linux kernel Landlock flaw can make sandbox file-access decisions inconsistent around bind mounts and moved directories. In specific conditions, a sandboxed process could get wider file access than intended during rename-related operations. The source does not provide CVSS, public exploitation evidence, or distribution-specific impact.
Executive priority
Treat as a targeted Linux sandbox-hardening issue, not a broad remote compromise signal. Patch through normal kernel maintenance, with higher priority for platforms relying on Landlock isolation for tenant or workload containment.
Technical view
Landlock previously collected rights for files opened through disconnected directories by walking toward the filesystem root without reliably accounting for the bind mount. That could miss permissions inherited from the mount path and instead inherit hidden filesystem hierarchy permissions, creating inconsistent access-right comparisons for LANDLOCK_ACCESS_FS_REFER.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Linux systems using Landlock sandboxing with bind mounts and workloads that can manipulate underlying mount sources. Systems not using Landlock are unlikely to be practically affected, based on the provided description.
Exploitation context
The bundle says KEV is false and provides no cited evidence of active exploitation. The described prerequisite requires a sandboxed task to hold specific write rights on the bind-mount source and read access to the mount point.
Researcher notes
The key risk is access-right widening from disconnected directory handling, not opened disconnected or unlinked files. The source states opened files store access rights in file security properties, so those cases have no impact.
Mitigation direction
Apply the relevant Linux stable kernel fixes referenced by the CVE record.
Check distribution kernel advisories for backported fixes and exact package versions.
Prioritize hosts that use Landlock sandboxing with bind mounts.
Review sandbox policies that grant FS_MAKE_REG, FS_REMOVE_FILE, and FS_REFER together.
If patching is delayed, reduce bind-mount write exposure for Landlock-confined workloads.
Validation and detection
Inventory kernels and map them against vendor advisories for CVE-2025-68736.
Confirm whether Landlock is enabled and used by sandboxed applications.
Identify workloads combining Landlock policies with bind mounts and rename operations.
Verify patched kernels include one of the referenced stable fixes.
Document any compensating controls where patching is deferred.
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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Dec 24, 2025, 12:09 UTC (UTC+00:00)
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