CVE-2017-16997

Description

elf/dl-load.c in the GNU C Library (aka glibc or libc6) 2.19 through 2.26 mishandles RPATH and RUNPATH containing $ORIGIN for a privileged (setuid or AT_SECURE) program, which allows local users to gain privileges via a Trojan horse library in the current working directory, related to the fillin_rpath and decompose_rpath functions. This is associated with misinterpretion of an empty RPATH/RUNPATH token as the "./" directory. NOTE: this configuration of RPATH/RUNPATH for a privileged program is apparently very uncommon; most likely, no such program is shipped with any common Linux distribution.

Category

7.8
CVSS
Severity: High
CVSS 3.0 •
CVSS 2.0 •
EPSS 0.81% Top 30%
Vendor Advisory redhat.com Vendor Advisory redhat.com
Affected: n/a glibc 2.19 through 2.26
Published at:
Updated at:

References

Link Tags
https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=22625 patch third party advisory issue tracking
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/102228 third party advisory vdb entry
https://sourceware.org/ml/libc-alpha/2017-12/msg00528.html patch third party advisory issue tracking
https://bugs.debian.org/884615 patch mailing list third party advisory issue tracking
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3092 third party advisory vendor advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2019:0327 third party advisory vendor advisory

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the severity of CVE-2017-16997?
CVE-2017-16997 has been scored as a high severity vulnerability.
How to fix CVE-2017-16997?
To fix CVE-2017-16997, make sure you are using an up-to-date version of the affected component(s) by checking the vendor release notes. As for now, there are no other specific guidelines available.
Is CVE-2017-16997 being actively exploited in the wild?
As for now, there are no information to confirm that CVE-2017-16997 is being actively exploited. According to its EPSS score, there is a ~1% probability that this vulnerability will be exploited by malicious actors in the next 30 days.
What software or system is affected by CVE-2017-16997?
CVE-2017-16997 affects n/a glibc 2.19 through 2.26.
This platform uses data from the NIST NVD, MITRE CVE, MITRE CWE, First.org and CISA KEV but is not endorsed or certified by these entities. CVE is a registred trademark of the MITRE Corporation and the authoritative source of CVE content is MITRE's CVE web site. CWE is a registred trademark of the MITRE Corporation and the authoritative source of CWE content is MITRE's CWE web site.
© 2025 Under My Watch. All Rights Reserved.