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TI-2021-02879 Aliases CVE-2021-3982GHSA-w69m-w3gr-72pp

Linux distributions using CAP_SYS_NICE for gnome-shell may be exposed to a privilege…

Priority LOW 25CWE-273Published · 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
No fix listed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA.

Summary

Linux distributions using CAP_SYS_NICE for gnome-shell may be exposed to a privilege escalation issue. An attacker, with low privilege permissions, may take advantage of the way CAP_SYS_NICE is currently implemented and eventually load code to increase its process scheduler priority leading to possible DoS of other services running in the same machine.

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.00289 21st percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet

SSVC decision points

Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
—gnome-shellgnome-shell downstream versions using CAP_SYS_NICE—No fix listedCNA
  • gnome-shell Vendor— Affected gnome-shell downstream versions using CAP_SYS_NICE Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome-shell:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*not specified by NVDVulnerableGNOME
  • cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome-shell:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·GNOME

Remediation

No fixed version listed by the sources yet.

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

Not affected: 3 products
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-3982
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-w69m-w3gr-72pp

References

Patch 2

  • TI-2017-05858 gnome-shell 3.22 through 3.24.1 mishandles extensions that fail to reload, which can lead… CVSS 3.0HIGH 8.1
  • TI-2012-03769 The gnome-shell plugin 3.4.1 in GNOME allows remote attackers to force the download and… CVSS 2.0MEDIUM 6.8
  • TI-2014-06083 GNOME Shell 3.14.x before 3.14.1, when the Screen Lock feature is used, does not limit… CVSS 2.0HIGH 7.2
  • TI-2010-03796 gnome-shell in GNOME Shell 2.31.5 places a zero-length directory name in the… CVSS 2.0MEDIUM 6.9
  • TI-2021-03604 A locking protection bypass flaw was found in some versions of gnome-shell as shipped… CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.1
  • TI-2023-23090 Gnome-shell: screenshot tool allows viewing open windows when session is locked CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.5
See all 10 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences