---
title: "CVE-2017-5618\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-2017-5618?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2017-5618

Publication date 20 March 2017

Last updated 25 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

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

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**7.8 · High**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2017-5618?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

GNU screen before 4.5.1 allows local users to modify arbitrary files and
consequently gain root privileges by leveraging improper checking of
logfile permissions.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2017-5618?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| screen | 16.10 yakkety | Not affected |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not affected |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Not affected |

---

* [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

---

### [seth-arnold](https://launchpad.net/~seth-arnold)

introduced via the following patches:
http://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/screen.git/commit/?id=c575c40c9bd7653470639da32e06faed0a9b2ec4
http://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/screen.git/commit/?h=screen-v4&id=5460f5d28c01a9a58e021eb1dffef2965e629d58

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

7.8 · High

* Base metrics

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

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 7.8 · High |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

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

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2017-5618)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-5618)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2017-5618)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2017-5618)

### Other references

* <https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/screen-devel/2017-01/msg00025.html>
* <https://savannah.gnu.org/bugs/?50142>
* <http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/01/24/10>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-5618>