Every CVE Search/ Get API key

CVE-2017-9525

In the cron package through 3.0pl1-128 on Debian, and through 3.0pl1-128ubuntu2 on Ubuntu, the...

6.7 MediumFix available

In the cron package through 3.0pl1-128 on Debian, and through 3.0pl1-128ubuntu2 on Ubuntu, the postinst maintainer script allows for group-crontab-to-root privilege escalation via symlink attacks against unsafe usage of the chown and chmod programs.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Local
Complexity
Low
Privileges needed
High
User interaction
None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Exploit likelihood

0.55%Down 0.5 points since Apr 14, 2021
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

NVD Score used 6.7

In the cron package through 3.0pl1-128 on Debian, and through 3.0pl1-128ubuntu2 on Ubuntu, the postinst maintainer script allows for group-crontab-to-root privilege escalation via symlink attacks against unsafe usage of the chown and chmod programs.

Record
CVE-2017-9525
CVSS 3.1
6.7 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 2.0
6.9 MediumAV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
Weakness
CWE-59
Updated
2026-11-02
CVE List No score

In the cron package through 3.0pl1-128 on Debian, and through 3.0pl1-128ubuntu2 on Ubuntu, the postinst maintainer script allows for group-crontab-to-root privilege escalation via symlink attacks against unsafe usage of the chown and chmod programs.

Record
CVE-2017-9525
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2017-18456 No score

In the cron package through 3.0pl1-128 on Debian, and through 3.0pl1-128ubuntu2 on Ubuntu, the postinst maintainer script allows for group-crontab-to-root privilege escalation via symlink attacks against unsafe usage of the chown and chmod programs.

Record
EUVD-2017-18456
Updated
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-p8jr-r46j-qpx9 6.7

In the cron package through 3.0pl1-128 on Debian, and through 3.0pl1-128ubuntu2 on Ubuntu, the...

In the cron package through 3.0pl1-128 on Debian, and through 3.0pl1-128ubuntu2 on Ubuntu, the postinst maintainer script allows for group-crontab-to-root privilege escalation via symlink attacks against unsafe usage of the chown and chmod programs.

Record
GHSA-p8jr-r46j-qpx9
CVSS 3.1
6.7 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-59
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV 6.7

In the cron package through 3.0pl1-128 on Debian, and through 3.0pl1-128ubuntu2 on Ubuntu, the postinst maintainer script allows for group-crontab-to-root privilege escalation via symlink attacks against unsafe usage of the chown and chmod programs.

Record
CVE-2017-9525
CVSS 3.1
6.7 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2017-9525 6.7

In the cron package through 3.0pl1-128 on Debian, and through 3.0pl1-128ubuntu2 on Ubuntu, the postinst maintainer script allows for group-crontab-to-root privilege escalation via symlink attacks against unsafe usage of the chown and chmod programs.

Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2017-9525
CVSS 3.1
6.7 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
Show 4 moreShow less
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2017-9525 6.7

In the cron package through 3.0pl1-128 on Debian, and through 3.0pl1-128ubuntu2 on Ubuntu, the postinst maintainer script allows for group-crontab-to-root privilege escalation via symlink attacks against unsafe usage of the chown and chmod programs.

Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2017-9525
CVSS 3.1
6.7 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUSN-5259-1 No score

cron vulnerabilities

It was discovered that the postinst maintainer script in Cron unsafely handled file permissions during package install or update operations. An attacker could possibly use this issue to perform a privilege escalation attack. (CVE-2017-9525)

Florian Weimer discovered that Cron incorrectly handled certain memory operations during crontab file creation. An attacker could possibly use this issue to cause a denial of service. (CVE-2019-9704)

It was discovered that Cron incorrectly handled user input during crontab file creation. An attacker could possibly use this issue to cause a denial of service. (CVE-2019-9705)

It was discovered that Cron contained a use-after-free vulnerability in its force_rescan_user function. An attacker could possibly use this issue to cause a denial of service. (CVE-2019-9706)

Record
USN-5259-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUSN-5259-2 No score

cron vulnerabilities

USN-5259-1 fixed several vulnerabilities in Cron. This update provides the corresponding update for Ubuntu 18.04 LTS.

Original advisory details:

It was discovered that the postinst maintainer script in Cron unsafely handled file permissions during package install or update operations. An attacker could possibly use this issue to perform a privilege escalation attack. (CVE-2017-9525)

Florian Weimer discovered that Cron incorrectly handled certain memory operations during crontab file creation. An attacker could possibly use this issue to cause a denial of service. (CVE-2019-9704)

It was discovered that Cron incorrectly handled user input during crontab file creation. An attacker could possibly use this issue to cause a denial of service. (CVE-2019-9705)

It was discovered that Cron contained a use-after-free vulnerability in its force_rescan_user function. An attacker could possibly use this issue to cause a denial of service. (CVE-2019-9706)

Record
USN-5259-2
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUSN-5259-3 No score

cron regression

USN-5259-1 and USN-5259-2 fixed vulnerabilities in Cron. Unfortunately that update was incomplete and could introduce a regression. This update fixes the problem.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

Original advisory details:

It was discovered that the postinst maintainer script in Cron unsafely handled file permissions during package install or update operations. An attacker could possibly use this issue to perform a privilege escalation attack. (CVE-2017-9525)

Florian Weimer discovered that Cron incorrectly handled certain memory operations during crontab file creation. An attacker could possibly use this issue to cause a denial of service. (CVE-2019-9704)

It was discovered that Cron incorrectly handled user input during crontab file creation. An attacker could possibly use this issue to cause a denial of service. (CVE-2019-9705)

It was discovered that Cron contained a use-after-free vulnerability in its force_rescan_user function. An attacker could possibly use this issue to cause a denial of service. (CVE-2019-9706)

Record
USN-5259-3
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
cron
Debian:12
before 3.0pl1-129
3.0pl1-129
cron
Debian:13
before 3.0pl1-129
3.0pl1-129
cron
Debian:14
before 3.0pl1-129
3.0pl1-129
systemd-cron
Debian:12
before 1.5.17-2
1.5.17-2
systemd-cron
Debian:13
before 1.5.17-2
1.5.17-2
systemd-cron
Debian:14
before 1.5.17-2
1.5.17-2
cron
Debian:8
before 3.0pl1-127+deb8u2, plus listed versions
3.0pl1-1273.0pl1-127+deb8u1
3.0pl1-127+deb8u2
cron
Debian:9
before 3.0pl1-128+deb9u2, plus listed versions
3.0pl1-1283.0pl1-128+deb9u1
3.0pl1-128+deb9u2
cron
Ubuntu:14.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
3.0pl1-124ubuntu2
None known
cron
Ubuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS
before 3.0pl1-128ubuntu2+esm2, plus listed versions
3.0pl1-127ubuntu13.0pl1-128ubuntu13.0pl1-128ubuntu23.0pl1-128ubuntu2+esm1
3.0pl1-128ubuntu2+esm2
cron
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS
before 3.0pl1-128.1ubuntu1.2, plus listed versions
3.0pl1-128ubuntu53.0pl1-128.1ubuntu13.0pl1-128.1ubuntu1.1
3.0pl1-128.1ubuntu1.2
cron
Ubuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS
before 3.0pl1-128ubuntu2+esm1, plus listed versions
3.0pl1-127ubuntu13.0pl1-128ubuntu13.0pl1-128ubuntu2
3.0pl1-128ubuntu2+esm1
cron
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS
before 3.0pl1-128.1ubuntu1.1, plus listed versions
3.0pl1-128ubuntu53.0pl1-128.1ubuntu1
3.0pl1-128.1ubuntu1.1

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
aliasesEUVD
first indexedCVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2017-9525 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 6.7) in Cron Project Cron, published June 9, 2017. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.55%, the 46th percentile. Fixed in cron 3.0pl1-129.

References

Show 11 moreShow less
MoveEnter Open