CVE-2017-5551: Linux Kernel

Medium severity, CVSS 4.4. EPSS: 0.4% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

The simple_set_acl function in fs/posix_acl.c in the Linux kernel before 4.9.6 preserves the setgid bit during a setxattr call involving a tmpfs filesystem, which allows local users to gain group privileges by leveraging the existence of a setgid program with restrictions on execute permissions. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2016-7097.

Affected products

• Linux Linux Kernel: up to and including 4.9.5

Published 2017-02-06. Last modified 2026-06-17.