# kernel-exploitation

A Linux kernel security research playbook for AI coding assistants. It covers QEMU debugging environments and mitigation mechanisms like KASLR and SMEP.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 3600 installs · ★ 2547
- Author: yaklang
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/yaklang/hack-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/kernel-exploitation/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-09-13
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/kernel-exploitation

## What it does

This skill equips the agent with Linux kernel security playbooks. It covers common memory flaws like use-after-free and race conditions. Debugging needs isolated testbeds. The notes explain how to unpack `rootfs.cpio.gz` using `cpio` and run tests inside QEMU with GDB on port 1234.

The playbook details kernel defenses such as KASLR and SMEP. It documents targets like `modprobe_path` overwrites and `seq_operations` hijacking in `kmalloc-32`. Reproducing these steps requires disabling `RANDOMIZE_BASE` in the kernel config, because address randomization breaks static GDB breakpoints.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add yaklang/hack-skills --skill kernel-exploitation -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/kernel-exploitation/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/kernel-exploitation/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add yaklang/hack-skills --skill kernel-exploitation -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/kernel-exploitation/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add yaklang/hack-skills --skill kernel-exploitation -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/kernel-exploitation/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install yaklang/hack-skills kernel-exploitation
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/kernel-exploitation/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add yaklang/hack-skills --skill kernel-exploitation -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/yaklang/hack-skills --path skills/kernel-exploitation
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/kernel-exploitation/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add yaklang/hack-skills --skill kernel-exploitation -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/yaklang/hack-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/kernel-exploitation/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- Configure a QEMU virtual machine with GDB debugging on port 1234
- Unpack and rebuild initramfs archives using cpio
- Analyze kernel mitigation mechanisms including KASLR and SMEP
- Inspect kernel structures like seq_operations in kmalloc-32

## Example prompts
- Show the QEMU launch command for running a custom kernel with GDB enabled
- Explain how the modprobe_path overwrite works for privilege escalation
- How do I unpack and repack rootfs.cpio.gz using cpio?

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 9588351d4d805dab.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 9588351d4d805dab
````text
---
name: kernel-exploitation
description: >-
  Linux kernel exploitation playbook. Use when exploiting kernel vulnerabilities (UAF, OOB, race condition, type confusion) for privilege escalation via commit_creds, modprobe_path overwrite, or kernel ROP chains in CTF and real-world scenarios.
---

# SKILL: Linux Kernel Exploitation — Expert Attack Playbook

> **AI LOAD INSTRUCTION**: Expert kernel exploitation techniques. Covers environment setup (QEMU), vulnerability classes, privilege escalation targets, kernel ROP, ret2usr, stack pivoting, and cross-cache attacks. Distilled from ctf-wiki kernel-mode sections and real-world kernel CVEs. Base models often confuse user-mode and kernel-mode exploitation constraints, especially regarding SMEP/SMAP/KPTI.

## 0. RELATED ROUTING

- [binary-protection-bypass](../binary-protection-bypass/SKILL.md) — userspace protections (NX, ASLR) also apply in kernel context
- [stack-overflow-and-rop](../stack-overflow-and-rop/SKILL.md) — kernel ROP reuses many userspace ROP concepts
- [heap-exploitation](../heap-exploitation/SKILL.md) — kernel SLUB is conceptually related to userspace heap
- [linux-privilege-escalation](../linux-privilege-escalation/SKILL.md) — non-exploit kernel privesc techniques

### Advanced References

- [KERNEL_MITIGATION_BYPASS.md](./KERNEL_MITIGATION_BYPASS.md) — KASLR, SMEP, SMAP, KPTI, FG-KASLR, CFI bypass techniques
- [KERNEL_HEAP_TECHNIQUES.md](./KERNEL_HEAP_TECHNIQUES.md) — SLUB internals, cross-cache attacks, msg_msg/pipe_buffer/sk_buff exploitation

---

## 1. EXPLOITATION MODEL

```
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  1. Find Vulnerability                              │
│     (UAF, OOB, race, integer overflow, type confusion)│
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  2. Build Primitive                                 │
│     (arbitrary read, arbitrary write, controlled RIP)│
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  3. Bypass Mitigations                              │
│     (KASLR, SMEP, SMAP, KPTI)                     │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  4. Escalate Privileges                             │
│     (commit_creds, modprobe_path, namespace escape)  │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  5. Return to Userspace Cleanly                     │
│     (KPTI trampoline, iretq/sysretq, swapgs)       │
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 9588351d4d805dab

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First 3013 of 11595 bytes. © yaklang · MIT · https://github.com/yaklang/hack-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/kernel-exploitation/SKILL.md

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