---
title: "CVE-2017-20148\n    | Ubuntu"
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-2017-20148?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2017-20148

Publication date 20 September 2022

Last updated 11 July 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Low**

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

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**9.8 · Critical**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2017-20148?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

In the ebuild package through logcheck-1.3.23.ebuild for Logcheck on
Gentoo, it is possible to achieve root privilege escalation from the
logcheck user because of insecure recursive chown calls.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2017-20148?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| logcheck | 26.04 LTS resolute | Needs evaluation |
| 25.10 questing | Ignored end of life, was needs-triage |
| 25.04 plucky | Ignored end of life, was needs-triage |
| 24.10 oracular | Ignored end of life, was needs-triage |
| 24.04 LTS noble | Needs evaluation |
| 23.10 mantic | Ignored end of life, was needs-triage |
| 23.04 lunar | Ignored end of life, was needs-triage |
| 22.10 kinetic | Ignored end of life, was needs-triage |
| 22.04 LTS jammy | Needs evaluation |
| 20.04 LTS focal | Needs evaluation |
| 18.04 LTS bionic | Needs evaluation |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Needs evaluation |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Ignored end of standard support |

---

* [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)

issue in gentoo packaging, but the debian package postinst
also does a recursive chown that bears investigation.

---

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

The scenario listed in the gentoo bug is mitigated by
fs.protected\_hardlinks = 1, downgrading severity to low

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

9.8 · Critical

* Base metrics

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

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 9.8 · Critical |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

**Vector:** CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2017-20148)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-20148)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2017-20148)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2017-20148)

### Other references

* <https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202209-10>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-20148>