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CVE Record

CVE-2017-14177: Apport through 2.20.7 does not properly handle core dumps from setuid binaries allowing local users to crea...

Apport through 2.20.7 does not properly handle core dumps from setuid binaries allowing local users to create certain files as root which an attacker could leverage to perform a denial of service via resource exhaustion or possibly gain root privileges. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2015-1324.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

Apport, the Ubuntu crash reporting tool, mishandled core dumps from setuid programs. A local user could cause root-owned file creation, leading to resource exhaustion or possibly root privileges. The provided sources describe local impact only and do not show active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat this as high priority where Ubuntu systems allow local users. It is not presented as remote or actively exploited, but possible root privilege gain makes delayed remediation risky on shared or multi-user hosts.

Technical view

Apport through 2.20.7 has an incomplete fix related to CVE-2015-1324. Its setuid core dump handling could allow local users to create certain files as root. The documented outcomes are denial of service through resource exhaustion and possible privilege escalation.

Likely exposure

Systems running Apport through 2.20.7 are the stated exposure. Risk is higher on shared Ubuntu systems, servers with local user accounts, or environments where untrusted users can execute programs locally.

Exploitation context

No KEV listing is provided, and the bundle gives no cited evidence of active exploitation. The vulnerability requires local user access based on the description. Public references include Canonical, Ubuntu USN-3480-1, Launchpad, and an Apport code revision.

Researcher notes

The record states an incomplete fix for CVE-2015-1324 and points to Apport revision 3171, Canonical CVE tracking, USN-3480-1, and Launchpad bug 1726372. The bundle lacks CVSS, CWE, exact fixed package versions, and exploit-in-the-wild evidence.

Mitigation direction

  • Check Canonical and Ubuntu USN-3480-1 guidance for affected release fixes.
  • Upgrade Apport according to vendor package guidance for each supported system.
  • Prioritize shared hosts and systems with untrusted local users.
  • Reduce unnecessary local shell access while remediation is pending.
  • Monitor for abnormal crash-report activity and resource exhaustion symptoms.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory systems with Apport installed and record package versions.
  • Compare versions against Apport through 2.20.7 exposure and vendor advisories.
  • Identify systems where untrusted users have local execution access.
  • Review crash reporting configuration and recent Apport-related events.
  • Confirm updated systems no longer match the affected version range.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
6

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

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-2017-14177 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
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
5Source links

CVSS and timeline data

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

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/aApportthrough 2.20.7Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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