---
title: "CVE-2018-12615\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-2018-12615?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2018-12615

Publication date 21 June 2018

Last updated 25 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

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

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**5.3 · Medium**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2018-12615?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

An issue was discovered in switchGroup() in
agent/ExecHelper/ExecHelperMain.cpp in Phusion Passenger before 5.3.2. The
set of groups (gidset) is not set correctly, leaving it up to randomness
(i.e., uninitialized memory) which supplementary groups are actually being
set while lowering privileges.

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| passenger | 20.04 LTS focal | Not affected |
| 19.10 eoan | Ignored end of life |
| 19.04 disco | Ignored end of life |
| 18.10 cosmic | Ignored end of life |
| 18.04 LTS bionic | Not affected |
| 17.10 artful | Ignored end of life |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| ruby-passenger | 20.04 LTS focal | Not in release |
| 19.10 eoan | Not in release |
| 19.04 disco | Not in release |
| 18.10 cosmic | Not in release |
| 18.04 LTS bionic | Not in release |
| 17.10 artful | Not in release |
| 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)

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

5.3 · Medium

* Base metrics

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

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 5.3 · Medium |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

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

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2018-12615)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-12615)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2018-12615)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2018-12615)

### Other references

* <https://github.com/phusion/passenger/commit/4e97fdb86d0a0141ec9a052c6e691fcd07bb45c8>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-12615>