CVE-2017-5551
The simple_set_acl function in fs/posix_acl.c in the Linux kernel before 4.9.6 preserves the setgid bit during a setxattr call involving a tmpfs filesystem, which allows local users to gain group privileges by leveraging the existence of a setgid…
Does this matter?
Lower severity and a low EPSS score (0.42%). Track it; it rarely justifies an emergency change on its own.
Description
The simple_set_acl function in fs/posix_acl.c in the Linux kernel before 4.9.6 preserves the setgid bit during a setxattr call involving a tmpfs filesystem, which allows local users to gain group privileges by leveraging the existence of a setgid program with restrictions on execute permissions. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2016-7097.
- CVSS 3.0
- 4.4 MEDIUMCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
- EPSS
- 0.42% probability · 36th percentile
- Public exploits
- None in Exploit-DB
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Affected
- linux/linux kernel
- Source
- cve@mitre.org
EPSS 0.4% since 27 October 2026; no change recorded yet. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
References
- http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=497de07d89c1410d76a15bec2bb41f24a2a89f31Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory
- http://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3791
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.9.6Release Notes, Vendor Advisory
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/01/21/3Mailing List, Patch, Third Party Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/95717Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038053
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1416126Issue Tracking, Patch
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/497de07d89c1410d76a15bec2bb41f24a2a89f31Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory
- http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=497de07d89c1410d76a15bec2bb41f24a2a89f31Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory
- http://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3791
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.9.6Release Notes, Vendor Advisory
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/01/21/3Mailing List, Patch, Third Party Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/95717Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038053
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1416126Issue Tracking, Patch
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/497de07d89c1410d76a15bec2bb41f24a2a89f31Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.