Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This FreeBSD issue can leak small pieces of kernel memory to a logged-in local user. It is not described as remote code execution, but kernel data exposure can still matter on shared systems or servers with local users.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation for shared FreeBSD systems or servers with local user accounts. Business urgency is lower than a remote exploit, but kernel memory disclosure can weaken isolation and expose sensitive operational data.
Technical view
FreeBSD insufficiently initialized memory copied to userland through the getcontext and swapcontext system calls. Affected versions before the listed STABLE revisions or RELEASE patch levels may disclose small amounts of privileged kernel memory to unprivileged authenticated local processes.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to affected FreeBSD 11.2, 11.1, and 10.x systems before the named patch levels. The source describes access by unprivileged authenticated local users, not unauthenticated remote attackers.
Exploitation context
The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or any cited evidence of active exploitation. The described abuse context is local authenticated access that may reveal small amounts of privileged kernel data.
Researcher notes
No CVSS, CWE, or exploit evidence is present in the provided bundle. Analysis should stay focused on the FreeBSD getcontext and swapcontext memory initialization defect and the specific affected release ranges.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade FreeBSD to 11.2-RELEASE-p4, 11.1-RELEASE-p15, 10.4-RELEASE-p13, or later.
- For STABLE branches, update past r338983 for 11.2-STABLE or r338984 for 10.4-STABLE.
- Check the FreeBSD advisory for exact upgrade or patch guidance.
- Limit unnecessary local shell access until affected systems are updated.
Validation and detection
- Inventory FreeBSD hosts and record release and patch level.
- Confirm systems are at or beyond the fixed versions named in the advisory.
- Review whether affected hosts allow unprivileged local user access.
- Document any systems that cannot be upgraded and track vendor guidance.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CVE-2018-17155 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
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.
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
- https://security.freebsd.org/advisories/FreeBSD-EN-18:12.mem.ascCVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.