Re: [PATCH net 2/2] vsock: prevent child netns mode switch from local to global

[Bobby Eshleman]

On Thu, Feb 12, 2026 at 09:59:16PM +0100, Stefano Garzarella wrote:
> From: Stefano Garzarella <sgarzare@xxxxxxxxxx>
> 
> A "local" namespace can change its `child_ns_mode` sysctl to "global",
> allowing nested namespaces to access global CIDs. This can be exploited
> by an unprivileged user who gained CAP_NET_ADMIN through a user
> namespace.
> 
> Prevent this by rejecting writes that attempt to set `child_ns_mode` to
> "global" when the current namespace's mode is "local".
> 
> Fixes: eafb64f40ca4 ("vsock: add netns to vsock core")
> Cc: bobbyeshleman@xxxxxxxx
> Signed-off-by: Stefano Garzarella <sgarzare@xxxxxxxxxx>
> ---
>  net/vmw_vsock/af_vsock.c | 15 ++++++++++++---
>  1 file changed, 12 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)
> 
> diff --git a/net/vmw_vsock/af_vsock.c b/net/vmw_vsock/af_vsock.c
> index 3b629b4a0359..9880756d9eff 100644
> --- a/net/vmw_vsock/af_vsock.c
> +++ b/net/vmw_vsock/af_vsock.c
> @@ -95,8 +95,9 @@
>   *     the namespace's own ns_mode.
>   *
>   *   Changing child_ns_mode only affects newly created namespaces, not the
> - *   current namespace or existing children. At namespace creation, ns_mode
> - *   is inherited from the parent's child_ns_mode.
> + *   current namespace or existing children. A "local" namespace cannot set
> + *   child_ns_mode to "global". At namespace creation, ns_mode is inherited
> + *   from the parent's child_ns_mode.
>   *
>   *   The init_net mode is "global" and cannot be modified.
>   *
> @@ -2844,8 +2845,16 @@ static int vsock_net_child_mode_string(const struct ctl_table *table, int write,
>  	if (ret)
>  		return ret;
>  
> -	if (write)
> +	if (write) {
> +		/* Prevent a "local" namespace from escalating to "global",
> +		 * which would give nested namespaces access to global CIDs.
> +		 */
> +		if (vsock_net_mode(net) == VSOCK_NET_MODE_LOCAL &&
> +		    new_mode == VSOCK_NET_MODE_GLOBAL)
> +			return -EPERM;
> +
>  		vsock_net_set_child_mode(net, new_mode);
> +	}
>  
>  	return 0;
>  }
> -- 
> 2.53.0
> 

Thanks for the fix!

Reviewed-by: Bobby Eshleman <bobbyeshleman@xxxxxxxx>