Improper privilege management in systemd
Priority LOW 21CWE-250Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- Privilege escalation
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-250.
Summary
It was discovered systemd does not correctly check the content of PIDFile files before using it to kill processes. When a service is run from an unprivileged user (e.g. User field set in the service file), a local attacker who is able to write to the PIDFile of the mentioned service may use this flaw to trick systemd into killing other services and/or privileged processes. Versions before v237 are vulnerable.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.00295 22nd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed Red Hat: 1 advisory
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| systemd | systemd | v237 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- systemd Vendorsystemd Affected v237 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 7
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:systemd_project:systemd:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 237 | Vulnerable | systemd |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* | 16.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 18.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:19.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 19.10 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:a:netapp:active_iq_performance_analytics_services:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
| cpe:2.3:a:netapp:element_software:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | NetApp |
- cpe:2.3:a:systemd_project:systemd:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 237 Vulnerable ·systemd
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* Versions 16.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 18.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:19.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 19.10 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:a:netapp:active_iq_performance_analytics_services:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
- cpe:2.3:a:netapp:element_software:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·NetApp
Remediation
Red Hat 1 advisory
- RHSA-2019:2091 Released 2019-08-06 · Red Hat rating Moderatesystemd security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) libgudev1-219-67.el7, systemd-219-67.el7, systemd-libs-219-67.el7 +2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) libgudev1-devel-219-67.el7, systemd-devel-219-67.el7, systemd-journal-gateway-219-67.el7 +2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) libgudev1-219-67.el7, systemd-219-67.el7, systemd-libs-219-67.el7 +2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) libgudev1-devel-219-67.el7, systemd-devel-219-67.el7, systemd-journal-gateway-219-67.el7 +2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) libgudev1-219-67.el7, libgudev1-219-67.el7.ppc, libgudev1-devel-219-67.el7 +8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) systemd-journal-gateway-219-67.el7, systemd-networkd-219-67.el7, systemd-resolved-219-67.el7 +1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) libgudev1-219-67.el7, libgudev1-devel-219-67.el7, systemd-219-67.el7 +4
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) systemd-journal-gateway-219-67.el7, systemd-networkd-219-67.el7, systemd-resolved-219-67.el7
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Ansible Tower 3.4 for RHEL 7 Server | Fixed | — |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:2091 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:2091 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:2091 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:2091 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:2091 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:2091 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:2091 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:2091 |
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2018-16888
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-34mm-3fgq-qjxq
References
More Systemd vulnerabilities
- TI-2023-11736 systemd before 247 does not adequately block local privilege escalation for some Sudo… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2017-06857 In systemd through 233, certain sizes passed to dns_packet_new in systemd-resolved can… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2026-29031 In nspawn in systemd 233 through 259 before 260, an escape-to-host action can occur via a crafted optional config file. CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.4
- TI-2022-04038 Information disclosure in systemd CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.5
- TI-2025-04111 Systemd-coredump: race condition that allows a local attacker to crash a suid program and… CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 4.7
- TI-2017-11647 In systemd 223 through 235, a remote DNS server can respond with a custom crafted DNS… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
Sources
- CVE-2018-16888 · CVE Program
- CVE-2018-16888 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-34mm-3fgq-qjxq · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2018-16888 · 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