CVE-2017-9525
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.
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
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 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 6.9 Medium
AV: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 Medium
CVSS: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 Medium
CVSS: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 Medium
CVSS: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 Medium
CVSS: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
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
cronDebian:12 |
before 3.0pl1-129 | 3.0pl1-129 |
cronDebian:13 |
before 3.0pl1-129 | 3.0pl1-129 |
cronDebian:14 |
before 3.0pl1-129 | 3.0pl1-129 |
systemd-cronDebian:12 |
before 1.5.17-2 | 1.5.17-2 |
systemd-cronDebian:13 |
before 1.5.17-2 | 1.5.17-2 |
systemd-cronDebian:14 |
before 1.5.17-2 | 1.5.17-2 |
cronDebian:8 |
before 3.0pl1-127+deb8u2, plus listed versions 3.0pl1-1273.0pl1-127+deb8u1 |
3.0pl1-127+deb8u2 |
cronDebian:9 |
before 3.0pl1-128+deb9u2, plus listed versions 3.0pl1-1283.0pl1-128+deb9u1 |
3.0pl1-128+deb9u2 |
cronUbuntu:14.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 3.0pl1-124ubuntu2 |
None known |
cronUbuntu: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 |
cronUbuntu: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 |
cronUbuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS |
before 3.0pl1-128ubuntu2+esm1, plus listed versions 3.0pl1-127ubuntu13.0pl1-128ubuntu13.0pl1-128ubuntu2 |
3.0pl1-128ubuntu2+esm1 |
cronUbuntu:18.04:LTS |
before 3.0pl1-128.1ubuntu1.1, plus listed versions 3.0pl1-128ubuntu53.0pl1-128.1ubuntu1 |
3.0pl1-128.1ubuntu1.1 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE 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
bugs.debian.org/864466
openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/06/08/3
securitytracker.com/id/1038651
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/03/msg00025.html
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/10/msg00029.html
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-9525
Show 11 moreShow less
github.com/advisories/GHSA-p8jr-r46j-qpx9
security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2017-9525
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2017-9525
ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-5259-1
ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-5259-2
ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-5259-3
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-9525
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2019-9704
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2019-9705
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2019-9706
launchpad.net/bugs/1971895