{"id":"CVE-2018-15687","aliases":["DEBIAN-CVE-2018-15687","EUVD-2018-7557","GHSA-wxcv-623q-99fj","UBUNTU-CVE-2018-15687","USN-3816-1","openSUSE-SU-2024:11420-1"],"status":"published","title":"systemd: chown_one() can dereference symlinks","description":"A race condition in chown_one() of systemd allows an attacker to cause systemd to set arbitrary permissions on arbitrary files. Affected releases are systemd versions up to and including 239.","severity":{"version":"3.0","score":7.8,"vector":"CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H","level":"high","assessor":"cna","from":"cve"},"epss":{"day":"2026-11-09","score":0.01058,"percentile":0.64735,"model":"v2026.06.15"},"facts":{"in_kev":false,"known_exploited":false,"public_exploit":true,"fix_available":true},"cwes":["CWE-362"],"published":"2018-10-26T00:00:00Z","modified":"2026-10-24T10:49:33Z","exploits":[{"source":"exploitdb","id":"EDB-45715","title":"systemd - 'chown_one()' Dereference Symlinks","type":"local","platform":"linux","date":"2018-10-29","verified":true,"url":"https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45715"}],"fixes":[{"ecosystem":"Debian:12","package":"systemd","fixed_in":["239-11"],"sources":["osv"]},{"ecosystem":"Debian:13","package":"systemd","fixed_in":["239-11"],"sources":["osv"]},{"ecosystem":"Debian:14","package":"systemd","fixed_in":["239-11"],"sources":["osv"]},{"ecosystem":"Ubuntu:16.04:LTS","package":"systemd","fixed_in":["229-4ubuntu21.8"],"sources":["osv"]},{"ecosystem":"Ubuntu:18.04:LTS","package":"systemd","fixed_in":["237-3ubuntu10.6"],"sources":["osv"]}],"affected":[{"source":"osv","ecosystem":"Debian:12","package":"systemd","ranges":[{"type":"ECOSYSTEM","events":[{"introduced":"0"},{"fixed":"239-11"}]}]},{"source":"osv","ecosystem":"Debian:13","package":"systemd","ranges":[{"type":"ECOSYSTEM","events":[{"introduced":"0"},{"fixed":"239-11"}]}]},{"source":"osv","ecosystem":"Debian:14","package":"systemd","ranges":[{"type":"ECOSYSTEM","events":[{"introduced":"0"},{"fixed":"239-11"}]}]},{"source":"osv","ecosystem":"Ubuntu:16.04:LTS","package":"systemd","ranges":[{"type":"ECOSYSTEM","events":[{"introduced":"0"},{"fixed":"229-4ubuntu21.8"}]}],"versions":["225-1ubuntu9","227-2ubuntu1","227-2ubuntu2","228-1ubuntu2","228-2ubuntu1","228-2ubuntu2","228-3ubuntu1","228-4ubuntu1","228-4ubuntu2","228-5ubuntu1","228-5ubuntu2","228-5ubuntu3","228-6ubuntu1","229-1ubuntu2","229-1ubuntu4","229-2ubuntu1","229-3ubuntu1","229-3ubuntu2","229-4ubuntu1","229-4ubuntu4","229-4ubuntu5","229-4ubuntu6","229-4ubuntu7","229-4ubuntu8","229-4ubuntu10","229-4ubuntu11","229-4ubuntu12","229-4ubuntu13","229-4ubuntu16","229-4ubuntu17","229-4ubuntu19","229-4ubuntu20","229-4ubuntu21","229-4ubuntu21.1","229-4ubuntu21.2","229-4ubuntu21.3","229-4ubuntu21.4","229-4ubuntu21.5","229-4ubuntu21.6"]},{"source":"osv","ecosystem":"Ubuntu:18.04:LTS","package":"systemd","ranges":[{"type":"ECOSYSTEM","events":[{"introduced":"0"},{"fixed":"237-3ubuntu10.6"}]}],"versions":["234-2ubuntu12","235-2ubuntu3","235-3ubuntu2","235-3ubuntu3","237-3ubuntu3","237-3ubuntu4","237-3ubuntu6","237-3ubuntu7","237-3ubuntu8","237-3ubuntu10","237-3ubuntu10.2","237-3ubuntu10.3","237-3ubuntu10.4"]},{"source":"osv","ecosystem":"Ubuntu:16.04:LTS","package":"systemd","ranges":[{"type":"ECOSYSTEM","events":[{"introduced":"0"},{"fixed":"229-4ubuntu21.8"}]}],"versions":["225-1ubuntu9","227-2ubuntu1","227-2ubuntu2","228-1ubuntu2","228-2ubuntu1","228-2ubuntu2","228-3ubuntu1","228-4ubuntu1","228-4ubuntu2","228-5ubuntu1","228-5ubuntu2","228-5ubuntu3","228-6ubuntu1","229-1ubuntu2","229-1ubuntu4","229-2ubuntu1","229-3ubuntu1","229-3ubuntu2","229-4ubuntu1","229-4ubuntu4","229-4ubuntu5","229-4ubuntu6","229-4ubuntu7","229-4ubuntu8","229-4ubuntu10","229-4ubuntu11","229-4ubuntu12","229-4ubuntu13","229-4ubuntu16","229-4ubuntu17","229-4ubuntu19","229-4ubuntu20","229-4ubuntu21","229-4ubuntu21.1","229-4ubuntu21.2","229-4ubuntu21.3","229-4ubuntu21.4","229-4ubuntu21.5","229-4ubuntu21.6"],"bundled":3},{"source":"osv","ecosystem":"Ubuntu:18.04:LTS","package":"systemd","ranges":[{"type":"ECOSYSTEM","events":[{"introduced":"0"},{"fixed":"237-3ubuntu10.6"}]}],"versions":["234-2ubuntu12","235-2ubuntu3","235-3ubuntu2","235-3ubuntu3","237-3ubuntu3","237-3ubuntu4","237-3ubuntu6","237-3ubuntu7","237-3ubuntu8","237-3ubuntu10","237-3ubuntu10.2","237-3ubuntu10.3","237-3ubuntu10.4"],"bundled":3},{"source":"osv","ecosystem":"openSUSE:Tumbleweed","package":"systemd","ranges":[{"type":"ECOSYSTEM","events":[{"introduced":"0"},{"fixed":"249.4-2.2"}]}],"bundled":19}],"products":[{"vendor":"canonical","product":"ubuntu_linux"},{"vendor":"systemd","product":"systemd"},{"vendor":"systemd_project","product":"systemd"}],"references":[{"url":"https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201810-10","tags":["vendor-advisory","x_refsource_GENTOO","x_transferred","Third Party Advisory","advisory"]},{"url":"https://github.com/systemd/systemd/pull/10517/commits","tags":["x_refsource_MISC","x_transferred","Patch","Third Party Advisory","fix"]},{"url":"http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105748","tags":["vdb-entry","x_refsource_BID","x_transferred","Broken Link","Third Party Advisory","VDB Entry","advisory"]},{"url":"https://usn.ubuntu.com/3816-1/","tags":["vendor-advisory","x_refsource_UBUNTU","x_transferred","Third Party Advisory","advisory"]},{"url":"https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45715/","tags":["exploit","x_refsource_EXPLOIT-DB","x_transferred","Exploit","Third Party Advisory","VDB Entry","evidence"]},{"url":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-15687"},{"url":"https://usn.ubuntu.com/3816-1"},{"url":"https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45715"},{"url":"https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-wxcv-623q-99fj"},{"url":"https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2018-15687","tags":["advisory"]},{"url":"https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2018-15687","tags":["report"]},{"url":"https://ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-3816-1","tags":["advisory"]},{"url":"https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-15687","tags":["report"]},{"url":"https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2018-6954","tags":["report"]},{"url":"https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2018-15686","tags":["report"]},{"url":"","tags":["advisory"]},{"url":"https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2016-10156","tags":["web"]},{"url":"https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-15908","tags":["web"]},{"url":"https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-18078","tags":["web"]},{"url":"https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-9445","tags":["web"]},{"url":"https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-15686","tags":["web"]},{"url":"https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-15687","tags":["web"]},{"url":"https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-15688","tags":["web"]},{"url":"https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-16864","tags":["web"]},{"url":"https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-16865","tags":["web"]},{"url":"https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-21029","tags":["web"]},{"url":"https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-6954","tags":["web"]},{"url":"https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2019-20386","tags":["web"]},{"url":"https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2019-3842","tags":["web"]},{"url":"https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2019-3843","tags":["web"]},{"url":"https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2019-3844","tags":["web"]},{"url":"https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2019-6454","tags":["web"]},{"url":"https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-13529","tags":["web"]},{"url":"https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2020-1712","tags":["web"]},{"url":"https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-33910","tags":["web"]}],"sources":{"cve":[{"id":"CVE-2018-15687","title":"systemd: chown_one() can dereference symlinks","description":"A race condition in chown_one() of systemd allows an attacker to cause systemd to set arbitrary permissions on arbitrary files. Affected releases are systemd versions up to and including 239.","status":"published","published":"2018-10-26T14:00:00Z","modified":"2025-06-09T15:48:38.953Z","cvss":[{"version":"3.0","score":7.8,"vector":"CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H","level":"high","assessor":"cna"}],"cwes":["CWE-362"],"updated_at":"2026-11-02T14:35:03.825765Z"}],"euvd":[{"id":"EUVD-2018-7557","description":"A race condition in chown_one() of systemd allows an attacker to cause systemd to set arbitrary permissions on arbitrary files. Affected releases are systemd versions up to and including 239.","status":"published","published":"2018-10-26T14:00:00Z","modified":"2025-06-09T15:48:38Z","cvss":[{"version":"3.0","score":7.8,"vector":"CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H","level":"high"}],"updated_at":"2026-11-02T20:32:27.753525Z"}],"ghsa":[{"id":"GHSA-wxcv-623q-99fj","title":"A race condition in chown_one() of systemd allows an attacker to cause systemd to set arbitrary...","description":"A race condition in chown_one() of systemd allows an attacker to cause systemd to set arbitrary permissions on arbitrary files. Affected releases are systemd versions up to and including 239.","status":"published","published":"2022-05-13T01:04:10Z","modified":"2025-06-09T18:31:58Z","cvss":[{"version":"3.1","score":7,"vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H","level":"high"}],"cwes":["CWE-362"],"updated_at":"2026-11-02T15:02:37.765114Z"}],"nvd":[{"id":"CVE-2018-15687","description":"A race condition in chown_one() of systemd allows an attacker to cause systemd to set arbitrary permissions on arbitrary files. Affected releases are systemd versions up to and including 239.","status":"published","published":"2018-10-26T14:29:00.757Z","modified":"2026-06-17T01:42:56.2Z","cvss":[{"version":"3.1","score":7,"vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H","level":"high","assessor":"primary"},{"version":"3.0","score":7.8,"vector":"CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H","level":"high","assessor":"secondary"},{"version":"2.0","score":6.9,"vector":"AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C","level":"medium","assessor":"primary"}],"cwes":["CWE-362"],"updated_at":"2026-11-02T14:04:46.409324Z"}],"osv":[{"id":"CVE-2018-15687","description":"A race condition in chown_one() of systemd allows an attacker to cause systemd to set arbitrary permissions on arbitrary files. Affected releases are systemd versions up to and including 239.","status":"published","published":"2018-10-26T14:29:00.757Z","modified":"2026-10-24T10:49:33.074829249Z","cvss":[{"version":"3.1","score":7,"vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H","level":"high"}],"updated_at":"2026-11-02T15:44:08.242347Z"},{"id":"DEBIAN-CVE-2018-15687","description":"A race condition in chown_one() of systemd allows an attacker to cause systemd to set arbitrary permissions on arbitrary files. Affected releases are systemd versions up to and including 239.","status":"published","published":"2018-10-26T14:29:00.757Z","modified":"2026-10-23T18:03:00.17308631Z","cvss":[{"version":"3.1","score":7,"vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H","level":"high"}],"updated_at":"2026-11-02T15:45:30.290351Z"},{"id":"UBUNTU-CVE-2018-15687","description":"A race condition in chown_one() of systemd allows an attacker to cause systemd to set arbitrary permissions on arbitrary files. Affected releases are systemd versions up to and including 239.","status":"published","published":"2018-10-26T00:00:00Z","modified":"2026-04-22T11:42:18.317471Z","cvss":[{"version":"3.1","score":7,"vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H","level":"high"},{"version":"3.0","score":7.8,"vector":"CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H","level":"high"},{"version":"3.0","score":4.7,"vector":"CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N","level":"medium"}],"updated_at":"2026-11-02T15:54:17.014176Z"},{"id":"openSUSE-SU-2024:11420-1","title":"libsystemd0-249.4-2.2 on GA media","description":"These are all security issues fixed in the libsystemd0-249.4-2.2 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.","status":"published","published":"2024-06-15T00:00:00Z","modified":"2026-02-04T02:45:22.858405Z","updated_at":"2026-11-02T16:58:35.195147Z"},{"id":"USN-3816-1","title":"systemd vulnerabilities","description":"Jann Horn discovered that unit_deserialize incorrectly handled status messages\nabove a certain length. A local attacker could potentially exploit this via\nNotifyAccess to inject arbitrary state across re-execution and obtain root\nprivileges. (CVE-2018-15686)\n\nJann Horn discovered a race condition in chown_one(). A local attacker\ncould potentially exploit this by setting arbitrary permissions on certain\nfiles to obtain root privileges. This issue only affected Ubuntu 18.04 LTS\nand Ubuntu 18.10. (CVE-2018-15687)\n\nIt was discovered that systemd-tmpfiles mishandled symlinks in\nnon-terminal path components. A local attacker could potentially exploit\nthis by gaining ownership of certain files to obtain root privileges. This\nissue only affected Ubuntu 16.04 LTS and Ubuntu 18.04 LTS. (CVE-2018-6954)\n","status":"published","published":"2018-11-12T17:32:15Z","modified":"2026-04-22T09:52:02.389308Z","updated_at":"2026-11-02T16:58:14.019824Z"}]}}