xorg-x11-server: Incorrect permission check in Xorg X server allows for privilege escalation
Published Oct 25, 2018
6.6
MEDIUMCVSS 3.0
EPSS 27.04%
Description
A flaw was found in xorg-x11-server before 1.20.3. An incorrect permission check for -modulepath and -logfile options when starting Xorg. X server allows unprivileged users with the ability to log in to the system via physical console to escalate their privileges and run arbitrary code under root privileges.
Affected products
No data.
Configuration 2
- 7.0
- 7.0
- 7.6
- 7.6
- 7.6
- 7.0
Configuration 3
- 16.04
- 18.04
- 18.10
Configuration 4
- 9.0
No data.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
xorg-x11-server-0:1.20.1-5.1.el7
Fixed · RHSA-2018:3410
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
xorg-x11-server
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
xorg-x11-server
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
xorg-x11-server
Not affected
| Product | Package | State | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | xorg-x11-server-0:1.20.1-5.1.el7 | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3410 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | xorg-x11-server | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | xorg-x11-server | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | xorg-x11-server | Not affected | n/a |
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
Red Hat statement
This issue did not affect the versions of xorg-x11-server as shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 and 6, as well as Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 prior to 7.4, as they did not allow the use of vulnerable command line options when running with elevated privileges. The default X server configuration in Red Hat Enterprise Linux only allows users logged in on the system's physical console to run Xorg X server. Therefore, users which only have remote access to the the system (for example using SSH) can not exploit this flaw.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v3.1 score for this CVE.
CVSS:3.0/AV:P/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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 v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Percentile over time
- EPSS v1
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Table of values (43 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 27.04% (0.27040) | 97.99th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Sep 22, 2026 | 27.04% (0.27040) | 97.95th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Sep 21, 2026 | 53.60% (0.53600) | 98.97th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Sep 6, 2026 | 27.04% (0.27040) | 97.91th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Sep 5, 2026 | 53.60% (0.53600) | 98.95th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Aug 30, 2026 | 27.04% (0.27040) | 97.90th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Aug 28, 2026 | 53.60% (0.53600) | 98.94th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Aug 24, 2026 | 27.04% (0.27040) | 97.88th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Aug 23, 2026 | 53.60% (0.53600) | 98.94th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 27.04% (0.27040) | 97.78th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| May 27, 2026 | 16.03% (0.16034) | 94.87th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| May 11, 2026 | 10.15% (0.10153) | 93.17th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 26, 2026 | 8.94% (0.08941) | 92.54th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 18, 2026 | 12.08% (0.12083) | 93.70th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jan 31, 2026 | 14.46% (0.14457) | 94.25th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Nov 30, 2025 | 7.13% (0.07133) | 91.20th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Sep 14, 2025 | 4.41% (0.04413) | 88.59th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jul 14, 2025 | 6.47% (0.06474) | 90.64th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| May 13, 2025 | 8.84% (0.08836) | 92.06th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 7.36% (0.07358) | 91.05th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 4.11% (0.04114) | 92.48th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Jun 13, 2024 | 4.11% (0.04114) | 92.19th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| May 20, 2024 | 3.43% (0.03434) | 91.48th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Apr 26, 2024 | 3.16% (0.03163) | 91.02th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Feb 3, 2024 | 3.21% (0.03210) | 90.26th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Dec 30, 2023 | 2.24% (0.02240) | 88.41th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Dec 12, 2023 | 2.37% (0.02369) | 88.66th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Nov 23, 2023 | 1.72% (0.01720) | 86.43th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Nov 6, 2023 | 1.30% (0.01304) | 84.44th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Oct 19, 2023 | 1.11% (0.01112) | 82.92th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Oct 4, 2023 | 0.90% (0.00899) | 80.85th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Sep 16, 2023 | 0.76% (0.00762) | 78.99th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Jun 22, 2023 | 0.78% (0.00778) | 78.88th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 8, 2023 | 0.58% (0.00585) | 74.84th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 0.31% (0.00314) | 65.51th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 40.83% (0.40827) | 98.23th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Apr 21, 2022 | 40.83% (0.40827) | 98.06th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 41.97% (0.41965) | 97.55th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 3, 2022 | 59.66% (0.59658) | 99.29th | v1 |
| Sep 16, 2021 | 59.66% (0.59658) | 99.77th | v1 |
| Sep 14, 2021 | 16.68% (0.16676) | 97.46th | v1 |
| Sep 1, 2021 | 59.66% (0.59658) | 99.77th | v1 |
| Apr 14, 2021 | 59.66% (0.59658) | 0.00th | v1 |
References (24)
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/154942/Xorg-X11-Server-SUID-modulepath-Privilege-Escalation.html x_refsource_MISC
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/155276/Xorg-X11-Server-Local-Privilege-Escalation.html x_refsource_MISC
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105741 vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1041948 vdb-entryx_refsource_SECTRACKThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3410 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_REDHATThird Party Advisory
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-14665 Vendor Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1637761 Issue Tracking
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2018-14665 x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory
- https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/xorg/xserver/commit/50c0cf885a6e91c0ea71fb49fa8f1b7c86fe330e x_refsource_CONFIRMPatchThird Party Advisory
- https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/xorg/xserver/commit/8a59e3b7dbb30532a7c3769c555e00d7c4301170 x_refsource_CONFIRMPatchThird Party Advisory
- https://lists.x.org/archives/xorg-announce/2018-October/002927.html mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMitigationPatchVendor Advisory
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-14665
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201810-09 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_GENTOOThird Party Advisory
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/3802-1/ vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTUThird Party Advisory
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-14665
- https://www.debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4328 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_DEBIANThird Party Advisory
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45697/ exploitx_refsource_EXPLOIT-DBThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45742/ exploitx_refsource_EXPLOIT-DBThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45832/ exploitx_refsource_EXPLOIT-DBThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45908/ exploitx_refsource_EXPLOIT-DBThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45922/ exploitx_refsource_EXPLOIT-DBThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45938/ exploitx_refsource_EXPLOIT-DBThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46142/ exploitx_refsource_EXPLOIT-DBThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- https://www.securepatterns.com/2018/10/cve-2018-14665-xorg-x-server.html x_refsource_MISCExploitThird Party Advisory
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.