CVE-2017-5123Public exploit

Local privilege escalation via unchecked waitid pointer

Published Nov 2, 2021 · Updated Aug 5, 2024

Improper input validation in Linux kernel 4.13 through 4.13.6 allows local users to gain root privileges through waitid(). The waitid() handlers pass an unchecked infop pointer to unsafe_put_user(), allowing result fields to be written into kernel memory. A local process, including one confined by a seccomp sandbox that permits waitid(), can corrupt kernel memory, crash the host, or escape the sandbox with root privileges.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability3.71%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper input validation in Linux kernel 4.13 through 4.13.6 allows local users to gain root privileges through waitid(). The waitid() handlers pass an unchecked infop pointer to unsafe_put_user(), allowing result fields to be written into kernel memory. A local process, including one confined by a seccomp sandbox that permits waitid(), can corrupt kernel memory, crash the host, or escape the sandbox with root privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2017-5123
Published
Nov 2, 2021
Updated
Aug 5, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-20, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 2, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

4.6NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
8.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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