---
title: CVE-2017-14798
description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the
  desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.
url: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2017-14798
---

# CVE-2017-14798

Publication date 1 March 2018

Last updated 25 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

[Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority )

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**7.0 · High**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2017-14798#impact-score)

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## Description

A race condition in the postgresql init script could be used by attackers
able to access the postgresql account to escalate their privileges to root.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2017-14798#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| postgresql-10 | 17.10 artful | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| postgresql-9.1 | 17.10 artful | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| postgresql-9.3 | 17.10 artful | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not affected |
| postgresql-9.5 | 17.10 artful | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| postgresql-9.6 | 17.10 artful | Not affected |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)

## Notes

---

### [sbeattie](https://launchpad.net/~sbeattie)

SUSE initscript specific issue

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

7.0 · High

* Base metrics

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Attack vector | Local |
  | Attack complexity | High |
  | Privileges required | Low |
  | User interaction | None |
  | Scope | Unchanged |
  | Confidentiality impact | High |
  | Integrity impact | High |
  | Availability impact | High |
* Scores

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 7.0 · High |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

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

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2017-14798)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-14798)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2017-14798)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2017-14798)

### Other references

* <http://lists.suse.com/pipermail/sle-security-updates/2017-November/003420.html>
* <https://bugzilla.suse.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1062722>
* <https://www.suse.com/de-de/security/cve/CVE-2017-14798/>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-14798>