CVE-2017-12424

Name: CVE-2017-12424
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2017-08-04T09:29:00.187+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

CRITICALCVSS 9.8/10EPSS 2.66%

Last modified Jun 17, 2026

CVE-2017-12424 is a critical-severity vulnerability rated 9.8/10 on the CVSS scale. In shadow before 4.5, the newusers tool could be made to manipulate internal data structures in ways unintended by the authors. Malformed input may lead to crashes (with a buffer overflow or other memory corruption) or other unspecified behaviors. EPSS estimates a 2.66% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

In shadow before 4.5, the newusers tool could be made to manipulate internal data structures in ways unintended by the authors. Malformed input may lead to crashes (with a buffer overflow or other memory corruption) or other unspecified behaviors. This crosses a privilege boundary in, for example, certain web-hosting environments in which a Control Panel allows an unprivileged user account to create subaccounts.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

9.8/10

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS Probability

2.66%

83.8th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-119

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Shadow Project	Shadow	< 4.5
Debian	Debian Linux	9.0

References

https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=756630Issue Tracking, Third Party Advisory
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/shadow/+bug/1266675Issue Tracking, Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/shadow-maint/shadow/commit/954e3d2e7113e9ac06632aee3c69b8d818cc8952Patch, Third Party Advisory
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/03/msg00020.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201710-16Third Party Advisory
https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=756630Issue Tracking, Third Party Advisory
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/shadow/+bug/1266675Issue Tracking, Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/shadow-maint/shadow/commit/954e3d2e7113e9ac06632aee3c69b8d818cc8952Patch, Third Party Advisory
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/03/msg00020.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201710-16Third Party Advisory

Timeline

Published: Aug 4, 2017
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2017-12424?

How severe is CVE-2017-12424?

CVE-2017-12424 has a CVSS score of 9.8/10 (CRITICAL severity). The EPSS model estimates a 2.66% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2017-12424?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.

Are you affected by CVE-2017-12424?

Run a free Strix scan to check your systems for this vulnerability.

Scan your code now

Source: NVD / NIST