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Vulnerability record · CVE-2017-18078 · published 29 January 2018

CVE-2017-18078: Systemd project systemd link following vulnerability

Systemd Project · Systemd

systemd-tmpfiles in systemd before 237 attempts to support ownership/permission changes on hardlinked files even if the fs.protected_hardlinks sysctl is turned off, which allows local users to bypass intended access restrictions via vectors involving a hard link to a file for which the user lacks write access, as demonstrated by changing the ownership of the /etc/passwd file.

7.8 CVSS 3.1 High EPSS 1.1% · top 36.5% CWE-59 · Link following
7.8CVSS 3.1 base score, v2 4.6
1.1%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
3Affected product versions listed by NVD
18References, 8 tagged exploit
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

systemd-tmpfiles in systemd before 237 attempts to support ownership/permission changes on hardlinked files even if the fs.protected_hardlinks sysctl is turned off, which allows local users to bypass intended access restrictions via vectors involving a hard link to a file for which the user lacks write access, as demonstrated by changing the ownership of the /etc/passwd file.

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected products

3 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2018-02/msg00109.html Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/146184/systemd-Local-Privilege-Escalation.html ExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2018/01/29/3 ExploitMailing ListThird Party Advisory
https://github.com/systemd/systemd/issues/7736 ExploitIssue TrackingThird Party Advisory
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r58af02e294bd07f487e2c64ffc0a29b837db5600e33b6e698b9d696b%40%3Cissues.bookkeeper.ap
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rf4c02775860db415b4955778a131c2795223f61cb8c6a450893651e4%40%3Cissues.bookkeeper.ap
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/04/msg00022.html Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/43935/ ExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2018/01/29/4 Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2018-02/msg00109.html Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/146184/systemd-Local-Privilege-Escalation.html ExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2018/01/29/3 ExploitMailing ListThird Party Advisory
https://github.com/systemd/systemd/issues/7736 ExploitIssue TrackingThird Party Advisory
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r58af02e294bd07f487e2c64ffc0a29b837db5600e33b6e698b9d696b%40%3Cissues.bookkeeper.ap
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rf4c02775860db415b4955778a131c2795223f61cb8c6a450893651e4%40%3Cissues.bookkeeper.ap
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/04/msg00022.html Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/43935/ ExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2018/01/29/4 Mailing ListThird Party Advisory

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2017-18078), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-10-05). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.