selinux-policy when sysctl fs.protected_hardlinks are set to 0 allows local users to…
Priority LOW 25CWE-254Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Will not fix Red Hat: no fix planned
Attack profile from CVSS 3.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
selinux-policy when sysctl fs.protected_hardlinks are set to 0 allows local users to cause a denial of service (SSH login prevention) by creating a hardlink to /etc/passwd from a directory named .config, and updating selinux-policy.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.00274 19th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Will not fix Red Hat: no fix planned
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:selinux_project:selinux:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | SELinux Project |
- cpe:2.3:o:selinux_project:selinux:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·SELinux Project
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
Not affected: 2 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2015-3170
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-m2mw-q7pj-g3wv
References
More SELinux Project Selinux vulnerabilities
- TI-2016-06417 SELinux policycoreutils allows local users to execute arbitrary commands outside of the… CVSS 3.0HIGH 8.8
- TI-2018-00983 Link following in SELinux Project policycoreutils CVSS 3.0MEDIUM 4.4
- TI-2021-14537 The CIL compiler in SELinux 3.2 has a heap-based buffer over-read in ebitmap_match_any… CVSS 3.1LOW 3.3
- TI-2021-14536 The CIL compiler in SELinux 3.2 has a use-after-free in cil_reset_classpermission (called… CVSS 3.1LOW 3.3
- TI-2021-14535 The CIL compiler in SELinux 3.2 has a use-after-free in __cil_verify_classperms (called… CVSS 3.1LOW 3.3
- TI-2021-14534 The CIL compiler in SELinux 3.2 has a use-after-free in __cil_verify_classperms (called… CVSS 3.1LOW 3.3
Sources
- CVE-2015-3170 · CVE Program
- CVE-2015-3170 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-m2mw-q7pj-g3wv · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2015-3170 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences