A race condition was found in util-linux before 2.32.1 in the way su handled the management of child processes.
A race condition was found in util-linux before 2.32.1 in the way su handled the management of child processes. A local authenticated attacker could use this flaw to kill other processes with root privileges under specific conditions.
- Published
- Jul 27, 2018
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 0.3% · 18th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-267
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Report tools
Action score
18
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 18 / 40 · 4.7 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 0 / 30 · 0.3%
CISA SSVC decision
- Exploitation
- none
- Automatable
- no
- Technical impact
- partial
Vulnrichment: CISA's decision-tree inputs.
CNA vs NVD score
- NVD
- 4.7
- CNA · redhat
- 5.5
- 0.8 point gap
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
The score given by the assigning authority versus NVD’s independent score. A gap means the severity is contested.
Affected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| util-linux project | util-linux | cpe:2.3:a:util-linux_project:util-linux |
| debian | debian linux | cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux |
| redhat | enterprise linux desktop | cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop |
| redhat | enterprise linux server | cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server |
| redhat | enterprise linux server aus | cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus |
| redhat | enterprise linux server eus | cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus |
| redhat | enterprise linux workstation | cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- debian debian linux8.0
- redhat enterprise linux desktop6.0
- redhat enterprise linux desktop7.0
- redhat enterprise linux server6.0
- redhat enterprise linux server7.0
- redhat enterprise linux server aus7.3
- redhat enterprise linux server aus7.4
- redhat enterprise linux server eus7.3
- redhat enterprise linux server eus7.4
- redhat enterprise linux server eus7.5
- redhat enterprise linux workstation6.0
- redhat enterprise linux workstation7.0
- util-linux project util-linuxbefore 2.32.1
Versions reported by the vendor
Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (redhat). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.
Linux util-linux
- 2.32.1affected
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | coreutils | before 8.20-1 | 8.20-1 |
| Debian:12 | shadow | before 1:4.4-4 | 1:4.4-4 |
| Debian:12 | util-linux | before 2.29.2-1 | 2.29.2-1 |
| Debian:7 | shadow | before 1:4.1.5.1-1+deb7u1 | 1:4.1.5.1-1+deb7u1 |
| Debian:8 | shadow | before 1:4.2-3+deb8u3 | 1:4.2-3+deb8u3 |
| openSUSE:Tumbleweed | util-linux | before 2.36.2-3.2 | 2.36.2-3.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | coreutils | before 0:8.4-46.el6 | 0:8.4-46.el6 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | coreutils-debuginfo | before 0:8.4-46.el6 | 0:8.4-46.el6 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | coreutils-libs | before 0:8.4-46.el6 | 0:8.4-46.el6 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | libblkid | before 0:2.23.2-33.el7_3.2 | 0:2.23.2-33.el7_3.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | libblkid-devel | before 0:2.23.2-33.el7_3.2 | 0:2.23.2-33.el7_3.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | libmount | before 0:2.23.2-33.el7_3.2 | 0:2.23.2-33.el7_3.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | libmount-devel | before 0:2.23.2-33.el7_3.2 | 0:2.23.2-33.el7_3.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | libuuid | before 0:2.23.2-33.el7_3.2 | 0:2.23.2-33.el7_3.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | libuuid-devel | before 0:2.23.2-33.el7_3.2 | 0:2.23.2-33.el7_3.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | util-linux | before 0:2.23.2-33.el7_3.2 | 0:2.23.2-33.el7_3.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | util-linux-debuginfo | before 0:2.23.2-33.el7_3.2 | 0:2.23.2-33.el7_3.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | uuidd | before 0:2.23.2-33.el7_3.2 | 0:2.23.2-33.el7_3.2 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1 | python-libmount | before 2.25-40.2 | 2.25-40.2 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1 | util-linux | before 2.25-40.1 | 2.25-40.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1 | util-linux-systemd | before 2.25-40.1 | 2.25-40.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP2 | python-libmount | before 2.28-44.3.3 | 2.28-44.3.3 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP2 | util-linux | before 2.28-44.3.1 | 2.28-44.3.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP2 | util-linux-systemd | before 2.28-44.3.3 | 2.28-44.3.3 |
+4
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| debian:coreutils | 8.20-1 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| debian:shadow | 1:4.4-4 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| debian:util-linux | 2.29.2-1 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:util-linux | 2.36.2-3.2 · openSUSE:Tumbleweed | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:coreutils | 0:8.4-46.el6 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:coreutils-debuginfo | 0:8.4-46.el6 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:coreutils-libs | 0:8.4-46.el6 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:libblkid | 0:2.23.2-33.el7_3.2 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:libblkid-devel | 0:2.23.2-33.el7_3.2 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:libmount | 0:2.23.2-33.el7_3.2 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:libmount-devel | 0:2.23.2-33.el7_3.2 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:libuuid | 0:2.23.2-33.el7_3.2 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:libuuid-devel | 0:2.23.2-33.el7_3.2 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:util-linux | 0:2.23.2-33.el7_3.2 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:util-linux-debuginfo | 0:2.23.2-33.el7_3.2 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:uuidd | 0:2.23.2-33.el7_3.2 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:coreutils | 8.12-6.25.33.3.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:python-libmount | 2.25-24.10.3 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:util-linux | 2.25-24.10.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:util-linux-systemd | 2.25-24.10.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
No dated events beyond publication.
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Someone with local access to the system can trigger it.
- A low-privileged account is enough.
- No user action is required.
- Special conditions such as timing or configuration are required.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- none
- Integrity
- none
- Availability
- high · the service can be disrupted
- Attack vector
- Local
- Attack complexity
- High
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- None
- Integrity impact
- None
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-267 · Privilege Defined With Unsafe ActionsCVSS vector
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
- Restful Privilege ElevationCAPEC-58likelihood: High · High
- Probe Audio and Video PeripheralsCAPEC-634likelihood: Low · High
- Collect Data from ClipboardCAPEC-637likelihood: Low · Low
- Identify Shared Files/Directories on SystemCAPEC-643likelihood: Medium · Medium
- Collect Data from Screen CaptureCAPEC-648likelihood: Medium · Medium
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for all 385,000+ vulnerabilities; that wouldn't be honest. For notable, high-impact vulnerabilities our team writes the mechanism, detection and remediation steps.
We use this product, ask for helpChange log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017-0654.html
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/96404
- www.securitytracker.com/id/1038271
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:0907
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2017-2616
- github.com/karelzak/util-linux/commit/dffab154d29a288aa171ff50263ecc8f2e14a891
- security.gentoo.org/glsa/201706-02
- www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3793
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.