CVE-2018-16588

7.8 HIGH 0.3% exploit odds Fix listed

What it is

Privilege escalation can occur in the SUSE useradd.c code in useradd, as distributed in the SUSE shadow package through 4.2.1-27.9.1 for SUSE Linux Enterprise 12 (SLE-12) and through 4.5-5.39 for SUSE Linux Enterprise 15 (SLE-15). Non-existing intermediate directories are created with mode 0777 during user creation. Given that they are world-writable, local attackers might use this for privilege escalation and other unspecified attacks. NOTE: this would affect non-SUSE users who took useradd.c code from a 2014-04-02 upstream pull request; however, no non-SUSE distribution is known to be affected.

At a glance

Exploitability: Can be exploited locally on the machine with a low-privilege account. High risk of data exposure, data tampering, service disruption.
Exploit odds: 0.3% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).
Fix: A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

2018-09-26 22:29 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2026-06-17 01:44 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
Exploit odds: 0.3% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
Severity: 7.8 HIGH (CVSS).
Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published: 2018-09-26 22:29 UTC
Last modified: 2026-06-17 01:44 UTC
Exploit probability: 0.3% · EPSS, next 30 days
Weakness: CWE-732 · Incorrect permission assignment
Record status: Modified

Affected

Suse Shadow ≤ 4.2.1-27.9.1
Suse Shadow ≤ 4.5-5.39

Attack profile CVSS 3.0 · 7.8

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

Raw vector

CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/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-2018-16588.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2018-16588. 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