VULNERABILITY INTELLIGENCE

CVE-2018-16888

CVSS score4.7 MEDIUM
EPSS probability0.29%
CISA KEVNot currently listed
Published2019-01-14
Last modified2026-06-17
CVSS vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Description

It was discovered systemd does not correctly check the content of PIDFile files before using it to kill processes. When a service is run from an unprivileged user (e.g. User field set in the service file), a local attacker who is able to write to the PIDFile of the mentioned service may use this flaw to trick systemd into killing other services and/or privileged processes. Versions before v237 are vulnerable.

Weakness classification

  • CWE-250: Execution with Unnecessary Privileges
  • CWE-269: Improper Privilege Management

Primary references