Cyber Resilience

CVE-2017-18017

Memory Safety in Linux Kernel 3.2 – 3.2.99

High EPSSMemory Safety
Published
03 January 2018
Modified
03 January 2025
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 9.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.53 99th percentile
Risk Priority 97 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2017-18017 is a critical-severity Use After Free (CWE-416) vulnerability in Linux Linux Kernel. Its CVSS base score is 9.8 (Critical).

Operationally, ranked in the top 1% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

The tcpmss_mangle_packet function in net/netfilter/xt_TCPMSS.c in the Linux kernel before 4.11, and 4.9.x before 4.9.36, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (use-after-free and memory corruption) or possibly have unspecified other impact by leveraging the presence of xt_TCPMSS…

more

in an iptables action.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

Likely ATT&CK TechniquesAI

Techniques this vulnerability likely enables, inferred from its description, weakness type, and attributed-actor tradecraft. Confidence is per-technique.

T1499.004 Application or System Exploitation Impactconfidence: HIGH
Remote packet processing triggers use-after-free leading to application/system exploitation and denial of service.
inferred from description + CWE · MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v19.0

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2015-5119Same product: Linux Linux Kernel
CVE-2015-5123Same product: Linux Linux Kernel
CVE-2023-4147Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2015-5122Same product: Linux Linux Kernel
CVE-2023-4132Same product: Debian Debian Linux
CVE-2023-3389Same product: Canonical Ubuntu Linux
CVE-2023-40283Same product: Canonical Ubuntu Linux
CVE-2023-3777Same product: Canonical Ubuntu Linux
CVE-2019-0211Same product: Canonical Ubuntu Linux
CVE-2024-1086Same product: Debian Debian Linux

Affected Assets

linux
linux kernel
3.2 — 3.2.99 · 3.3 — 3.10.108 · 3.11 — 3.16.54
debian
debian linux
7.0, 8.0
arista
eos
4.20.1fx-virtual-router
f5
arx
6.2.0 — 6.4.0
suse
caas platform
all versions
suse
linux enterprise debuginfo
11
suse
linux enterprise module for public cloud
12
suse
linux enterprise point of sale
11
suse
openstack cloud
6
opensuse
leap
42.3
+19 more product configuration(s) — see NVD for full list

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)
  • 3 hardening rules · 3 OS baselines
Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V1.4.3

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-416

Use-after-free exploits that achieve arbitrary code execution are blocked or significantly hardened by non-executable pages and ASLR.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

Secure SDLC practices directly incorporate memory-safety tooling and reviews that prevent most use-after-free defects.

ID.RA-01 partial match
prevents

Vulnerability identification processes can discover use-after-free issues via scanning or analysis but do not prevent their introduction.

PR.PS-02 partial match
prevents

Routine patching removes known use-after-free instances after they have been introduced in released software.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

detects

Security testing in development can detect use-after-free bugs before release.

prevents

Secure SDLC mandates memory-safety practices that reduce use-after-free defects.

prevents

Application security requirements can specify memory-management rules that mitigate use-after-free.

prevents

Secure architecture principles include memory-safety design choices that limit use-after-free exposure.

prevents

Secure coding standards directly prescribe avoidance of use-after-free patterns.

prevents

Change-management processes help ensure memory-safety fixes are deployed consistently.

References