kernel: Race condition in the KEYS subsystem
Published Oct 28, 2017
7.8
HIGHCVSS 3.1
EPSS 0.41%
Description
The KEYS subsystem in the Linux kernel before 4.13.10 does not correctly synchronize the actions of updating versus finding a key in the "negative" state to avoid a race condition, which allows local users to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via crafted system calls.
Affected products
No data.
- ≥ 4.4 · < 4.4.95
- ≥ 4.5 · < 4.9.59
- ≥ 4.10 · < 4.13.10
No data.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
kernel
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
kernel
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
kernel
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
kernel-alt
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
kernel-rt
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2
realtime-kernel
Not affected
| Product | Package | State | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | kernel | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | kernel | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | kernel | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | kernel-alt | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | kernel-rt | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise MRG 2 | realtime-kernel | Not affected | n/a |
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
Red Hat statement
This issue does not affect the Linux kernel packages as shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5, 6, 7 and MRG 2 as a code with the flaw is not present in the products listed.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
This CVE is not in the KEV list.
No CISA SSVC assessment for this CVE yet.
Estimated probability of exploitation in the wild in the next 30 days (FIRST EPSS). As of Oct 1, 2026.
Score over time
2021–2026- EPSS v1
- EPSS v5
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
Percentile over time
- EPSS v1
- EPSS v5
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
Table of values (8 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 0.41% (0.00415) | 33.45th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Sep 20, 2026 | 0.41% (0.00415) | 35.48th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jul 20, 2024 | 0.04% (0.00042) | 5.06th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 0.04% (0.00042) | 5.63th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 0.95% (0.00950) | 32.28th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 0.95% (0.00950) | 13.46th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 3, 2022 | 0.69% (0.00691) | 18.93th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Apr 14, 2021 | 0.69% (0.00691) | 0.00th | v1 |
References (8)
- http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=363b02dab09b3226f3bd1420dad9c72b79a42a76 x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory
- http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.13.10 x_refsource_CONFIRMRelease NotesVendor Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/101621 vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-15951 Vendor Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1507539 Issue Tracking
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/363b02dab09b3226f3bd1420dad9c72b79a42a76 x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-15951
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-15951
| Link | Providers | Tags |
|---|---|---|
| http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=363b02dab09b3226f3bd1420dad9c72b79a42a76 | x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory | |
| http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v4.x/ChangeLog-4.13.10 | x_refsource_CONFIRMRelease NotesVendor Advisory | |
| http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/101621 | vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry | |
| https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-15951 | Vendor Advisory | |
| https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1507539 | Issue Tracking | |
| https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/363b02dab09b3226f3bd1420dad9c72b79a42a76 | x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory | |
| https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-15951 | ||
| https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-15951 |
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.