CVE-2017-18226 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2017-18226 article provides insights into a vulnerability in the Gentoo net-im/jabberd2 package up to version 2.6.1, potentially enabling local users to terminate processes.

Understanding CVE-2017-18226

This CVE involves a privilege escalation vulnerability in the Gentoo net-im/jabberd2 package.

What is CVE-2017-18226?

The package assigns ownership of /var/run/jabber to the jabber account, allowing local users to exploit this access to terminate processes.

The Impact of CVE-2017-18226

The vulnerability could be exploited by local users to terminate any processes by modifying the PID file before a root script executes a specific command.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-18226

This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The Gentoo net-im/jabberd2 package up to version 2.6.1 sets ownership of /var/run/jabber to the jabber account, potentially enabling local users to kill arbitrary processes.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: n/a
Vendor: n/a
Versions affected: up to 2.6.1

Exploitation Mechanism

Local users can exploit their access to the jabber account to modify the PID file before a root script executes a specific command, enabling them to terminate processes.

Mitigation and Prevention

Learn how to mitigate and prevent the CVE-2017-18226 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Monitor and restrict access to the jabber account and related files.
Regularly review and update permissions on critical system files.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement the principle of least privilege to restrict user access.
Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by the vendor to address the vulnerability.