A flaw was found in xorg-x11-server before 1.20.3.
A flaw was found in xorg-x11-server before 1.20.3. An incorrect permission check for -modulepath and -logfile options when starting Xorg. X server allows unprivileged users with the ability to log in to the system via physical console to escalate their privileges and run arbitrary code under root privileges.
- Published
- Oct 25, 2018
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 27.0% · 98th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-863
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Report tools
Action score
34
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 26 / 40 · 6.6 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 8 / 30 · 27.0%
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for the hundreds of thousands of vulnerabilities in the database; 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 helpAffected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| x.org | x server | cpe:2.3:a:x.org:x_server |
| 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 server tus | cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus |
| redhat | enterprise linux workstation | cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation |
| canonical | ubuntu linux | cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux |
| debian | debian linux | cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- canonical ubuntu linux16.04
- canonical ubuntu linux18.04
- canonical ubuntu linux18.10
- debian debian linux9.0
- redhat enterprise linux desktop7.0
- redhat enterprise linux server7.0
- redhat enterprise linux server aus7.6
- redhat enterprise linux server eus7.6
- redhat enterprise linux server tus7.6
- redhat enterprise linux workstation7.0
- x.org x serverbefore 1.20.3
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine:v3.10 | xorg-server | before 1.20.3-r0 | 1.20.3-r0 |
| Alpine:v3.6 | xorg-server | before 1.19.5-r1 | 1.19.5-r1 |
| Alpine:v3.8 | xorg-server | before 1.19.6-r3 | 1.19.6-r3 |
| Debian:12 | xorg-server | before 2:1.20.3-1 | 2:1.20.3-1 |
| Debian:9 | xorg-server | before 2:1.19.2-1+deb9u4 | 2:1.19.2-1+deb9u4 |
| openSUSE:Tumbleweed | xorg-x11-server | before 1.20.13-1.2 | 1.20.13-1.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | xorg-x11-server | before 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 | 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | xorg-x11-server-common | before 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 | 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | xorg-x11-server-debuginfo | before 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 | 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | xorg-x11-server-devel | before 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 | 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | xorg-x11-server-source | before 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 | 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | xorg-x11-server-Xdmx | before 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 | 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | xorg-x11-server-Xephyr | before 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 | 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | xorg-x11-server-Xnest | before 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 | 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | xorg-x11-server-Xorg | before 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 | 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | xorg-x11-server-Xvfb | before 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 | 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | xorg-x11-server-Xwayland | before 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 | 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 | xorg-x11-server | before 1.19.6-8.3.2 | 1.19.6-8.3.2 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 11 SP4 | xorg-x11-server | before 7.4-27.122.21.1 | 7.4-27.122.21.1 |
Same product
x.org: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2023-6816Xorg-x11-server: heap buffer overflow in devicefocusevent and procxiquerypointer40Plan
- CVE-2007-6427The XInput extension in X.Org Xserver before 1.4.1 allows context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via requests related to byte38Monitor
- CVE-2026-56000xorg-x11-server / xwayland GLX contextTags Use-After-Free in CommonMakeCurrent()36Monitor
- CVE-2026-34002Xorg: xwayland: x.org x server: information disclosure or denial of service via out-of-bounds read in xkb modifier map handling36Monitor
- CVE-2026-34000Xwayland: xorg: x.org x server: information disclosure and denial of service via out-of-bounds read in xkb geometry processing.36Monitor
- CVE-2022-46344A vulnerability was found in X.Org.36Monitor
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 |
|---|---|---|
| alpine:xorg-server | 1.20.3-r0 · Alpine:v3.10 | Package registry (OSV) |
| debian:xorg-server | 2:1.20.3-1 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:xorg-x11-server | 1.20.13-1.2 · openSUSE:Tumbleweed | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:xorg-x11-server | 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:xorg-x11-server-common | 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:xorg-x11-server-debuginfo | 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:xorg-x11-server-devel | 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:xorg-x11-server-source | 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:xorg-x11-server-Xdmx | 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:xorg-x11-server-Xephyr | 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:xorg-x11-server-Xnest | 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:xorg-x11-server-Xorg | 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:xorg-x11-server-Xvfb | 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:xorg-x11-server-Xwayland | 0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:xorg-x11-server | 7.4-27.122.21.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 11 SP4 | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
Weaponized
A ready exploit tool or active in-the-wild use is known for this vulnerability. This should be your top priority.
Evidence
- Metasploit module ×3
- Exploit-DB entry ×10
- Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub ×2
Noroxi does not host or link to exploit code. Metasploit module names and Nuclei template ids are shown (names, not code); Exploit-DB entries and PoC repositories are given as counts only.
| Source | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Exploit-DB entry | local | 2018-12-04 |
| Exploit-DB entry | local | 2018-11-13 |
| Exploit-DB entry | local | 2018-11-26 |
| Exploit-DB entry | local | 2018-11-26 |
| Exploit-DB entry | local | 2018-11-30 |
| Exploit-DB entry | local | 2018-10-25 |
| Exploit-DB entry | local | 2018-10-30 |
| Exploit-DB entry | local | 2019-01-14 |
| Exploit-DB entry | local | 2019-11-20 |
| Exploit-DB entry | local | 2019-11-20 |
| Metasploit module | exploit/aix/local/xorg_x11_serverXorg X11 Server Local Privilege Escalationexploit | 2018-10-25 |
| Metasploit module | exploit/multi/local/xorg_x11_suid_serverXorg X11 Server SUID logfile Privilege Escalationexploit | 2018-10-25 |
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.
- First PoC-1 d
- Metasploit-1 d
- Published
- TodayOct 6, 2026+2903 d
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
- Physical access to the device is required.
- A low-privileged account is enough.
- No user action is required.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- high · data can be read
- Integrity
- high · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- high · the service can be disrupted
- Attack vector
- Physical
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-863 · Incorrect AuthorizationCVSS vector
CVSS:3.0/AV:P/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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.
MITRE has no CAPEC/ATT&CK mapping for this CWE.
Change log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/154942/Xorg-X11-Server-SUID-modulepath-Privilege-Escalation.html
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/155276/Xorg-X11-Server-Local-Privilege-Escalation.html
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/105741
- www.securitytracker.com/id/1041948
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3410
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2018-14665
- gitlab.freedesktop.org/xorg/xserver/commit/50c0cf885a6e91c0ea71fb49fa8f1b7c86fe330e
- gitlab.freedesktop.org/xorg/xserver/commit/8a59e3b7dbb30532a7c3769c555e00d7c4301170
- lists.x.org/archives/xorg-announce/2018-October/002927.html
- security.gentoo.org/glsa/201810-09
- usn.ubuntu.com/3802-1/
- www.debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4328
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.