CVE-2006-4447: X.Org and XFree86, including libX11, xdm, xf86dga, xinit, xload, xtrans, and xterm, does not check the retu...

X.Org and XFree86, including libX11, xdm, xf86dga, xinit, xload, xtrans, and xterm, does not check the return values for setuid and seteuid calls when attempting to drop privileges, which might allow local users to gain privileges by causing those calls to fail, such as by exceeding a ulimit.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdatedAug 7, 2024, 19:14 UTC (UTC+00:00)

Analyst readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a local privilege-escalation flaw in legacy X.Org and XFree86 components. If a user already has local access, some setuid programs may fail to drop privileges safely and could leave elevated rights available. Internet-facing risk is not indicated by the source bundle.

Executive priority

Treat this as a legacy local-access risk, not an emergency internet-exposure event. Prioritize shared systems, administrative workstations, and older servers where local users can execute X-related utilities.

Technical view

Affected X.Org/XFree86 components, including libX11, xdm, xf86dga, xinit, xload, xtrans, and xterm, reportedly failed to check setuid/seteuid return values while dropping privileges. The described failure condition involves local users causing privilege-drop calls to fail, such as through resource-limit conditions.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on older Unix/Linux systems with vulnerable X.Org or XFree86 packages installed and local interactive users present. The bundle does not provide complete version ranges or CPEs.

Exploitation context

The source bundle supports local privilege escalation only. It does not cite CISA KEV listing, remote exploitation, public weaponization, or active exploitation in the wild.

Researcher notes

Structured affected-product data is incomplete in the bundle. The core condition is unchecked privilege-drop failure in multiple X components. Validation should focus on installed distribution packages, setuid binary exposure, and vendor advisory mapping rather than assuming all modern X.Org installations are affected.

Mitigation direction

Apply vendor distribution updates for X.Org/XFree86 packages referenced by your platform advisory.
Prioritize systems allowing local shell, desktop, kiosk, or shared-user access.
Remove or disable vulnerable X components where they are not required.
Check current vendor guidance for exact fixed package versions.

Validation and detection

Inventory installed X.Org/XFree86 packages and compare them with vendor advisory coverage.
Identify setuid X-related binaries present on legacy systems.
Confirm whether local untrusted users can access affected hosts.
Verify patched package versions through the operating system package manager.

Prepared: Jun 29, 2026, 10:45 UTC (UTC+00:00)
Confidence: medium
Sources: 7

Public sources used

Based on public source material and reviewed before publication.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

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CVE-2006-4447 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record

Severity: Unknown
CVSS: Not scored
Known Exploited: No
Published: Aug 30, 2006, 01:00 UTC (UTC+00:00)

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors

0Timeline events

0ADP providers

18Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
21660CVE reference · third-party-advisory, x_refsource_SECUNIA
MDKSA-2006:160CVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_MANDRIVA
[xorg] 20060620 X.Org security advisory: setuid return value check problemsCVE reference · mailing-list, x_refsource_MLIST
VU#300368CVE reference · third-party-advisory, x_refsource_CERT-VN
ADV-2006-3409CVE reference · vdb-entry, x_refsource_VUPEN
21693CVE reference · third-party-advisory, x_refsource_SECUNIA
DSA-1193CVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_DEBIAN
GLSA-200704-22CVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_GENTOO
22332CVE reference · third-party-advisory, x_refsource_SECUNIA
ADV-2007-0409CVE reference · vdb-entry, x_refsource_VUPEN
GLSA-200608-25CVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_GENTOO
23697CVE reference · vdb-entry, x_refsource_BID
25059CVE reference · third-party-advisory, x_refsource_SECUNIA
25032CVE reference · third-party-advisory, x_refsource_SECUNIA
[beast] 20061228 ANNOUNCE: BEAST/BSE v0.7.1CVE reference · mailing-list, x_refsource_MLIST
19742CVE reference · vdb-entry, x_refsource_BID
21650CVE reference · third-party-advisory, x_refsource_SECUNIA

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus

n/an/an/aListed

Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.