CVE-2017-16997

7.8 HIGH 3% exploit odds Fix listed

What it is

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.

At a glance

Exploitability: Can be exploited locally on the machine without logging in, but needs a user to act. High risk of data exposure, data tampering, service disruption.
Exploit odds: 2.9% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).
Fix: A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

2017-12-18 01:29 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2026-06-17 01:10 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
Exploit odds: 2.9% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
Severity: 7.8 HIGH (CVSS).
Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published: 2017-12-18 01:29 UTC
Last modified: 2026-06-17 01:10 UTC
Exploit probability: 2.9% · EPSS, next 30 days
Weakness: CWE-426
Record status: Modified

Affected

Gnu Glibc 2.19
Gnu Glibc 2.20
Gnu Glibc 2.21
Gnu Glibc 2.22
Gnu Glibc 2.23
Gnu Glibc 2.25
Gnu Glibc 2.26
Redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop 7.0

Attack profile CVSS 3.0 · 7.8

Attack vector: Local
Complexity: Low
Privileges needed: None
User interaction: Required
Scope: Unchanged
Confidentiality: High
Integrity: High
Availability: High

Raw vector

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

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2017-16997.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2017-16997. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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Fix and advisories

References

NVD record · CVE.org record