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Vulnerability record · CVE-2017-5618 · published 20 March 2017

CVE-2017-5618: Gnu screen incorrect authorization vulnerability

Gnu · Screen

GNU screen before 4.5.1 allows local users to modify arbitrary files and consequently gain root privileges by leveraging improper checking of logfile permissions.

7.8 CVSS 3.0 High EPSS 1.1% · top 36.1% CWE-863 · Incorrect authorization
7.8CVSS 3.0 base score, v2 7.2
1.1%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
1Affected product versions listed by NVD
12References, 4 tagged exploit
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

GNU screen before 4.5.1 allows local users to modify arbitrary files and consequently gain root privileges by leveraging improper checking of logfile permissions.

CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected products

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

References

LinkTags
http://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/screen.git/patch/?id=1c6d2817926d30c9a7a97d99af7ac5de4a5845b8 PatchThird Party Advisory
http://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/screen.git/tree/src/ChangeLog?h=v.4.5.1 Release NotesThird Party Advisory
http://savannah.gnu.org/bugs/?50142 Third Party Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/01/29/3 ExploitMailing ListThird Party Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/95873 Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/screen-devel/2017-01/msg00025.html ExploitThird Party Advisory
http://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/screen.git/patch/?id=1c6d2817926d30c9a7a97d99af7ac5de4a5845b8 PatchThird Party Advisory
http://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/screen.git/tree/src/ChangeLog?h=v.4.5.1 Release NotesThird Party Advisory
http://savannah.gnu.org/bugs/?50142 Third Party Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/01/29/3 ExploitMailing ListThird Party Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/95873 Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/screen-devel/2017-01/msg00025.html ExploitThird Party Advisory

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Related vulnerabilities

Same products first, then exploited flaws of the same weakness class.

10.0CVE-2003-0972Gnu screen vulnerabilityInteger signedness error in ansi.c for GNU screen 4.0.1 and earlier, and 3.9.15 and earlier, allows local users to execute arbitrary code via a large…EPSS 3.4%9.8CVE-2021-26937Gnu screen argument injection vulnerabilityencoding.c in GNU Screen through 4.8.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (invalid write access and application crash) or possibly …EPSS 9.1%9.8CVE-2020-9366Gnu screen out-of-bounds write vulnerabilityA buffer overflow was found in the way GNU Screen before 4.8.0 treated the special escape OSC 49. Specially crafted output, or a special program, cou…EPSS 2.7%7.2CVE-2007-3048Gnu screen vulnerabilityGNU screen 4.0.3 allows local users to unlock the screen via a CTRL-C sequence at the password prompt. NOTE: multiple third parties report inability …EPSS 0.71%6.5CVE-2023-24626Gnu screen incorrect permission assignment vulnerabilitysocket.c in GNU Screen through 4.9.0, when installed setuid or setgid (the default on platforms such as Arch Linux and FreeBSD), allows local users t…EPSS 0.54%4.9CVE-2009-1214Gnu screen permissions and access controls vulnerabilityGNU screen 4.0.3 creates the /tmp/screen-exchange temporary file with world-readable permissions, which might allow local users to obtain sensitive s…EPSS 0.34%4.6CVE-2002-1602Gnu screen vulnerabilityBuffer overflow in the Braille module for GNU screen 3.9.11, when HAVE_BRAILLE is defined, allows local users to execute arbitrary code.EPSS 1.3%2.6CVE-2006-4573Gnu screen vulnerabilityMultiple unspecified vulnerabilities in the "utf8 combining characters handling" (utf8_handle_comb function in encoding.c) in screen before 4.0.3 all…EPSS 2.3%

Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2017-5618), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-28). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.