CVE-2017-0358

HIGH

Debian/Ubuntu ntfs-3g Local Privilege Escalation

Title source: metasploit
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 4 public exploits for CVE-2017-0358. PoCs published by Google Security Research, Kristian Erik Hermansen, Wangsafz, including Metasploit module exploits/linux/local/ntfs3g_priv_esc.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit leverages a vulnerability in ntfs-3g's setuid binary to execute modprobe with attacker-controlled environment variables, leading to arbitrary kernel module loading and local privilege escalation. The exploit works by exhausting file descriptors to trigger a fallback to modprobe execution.

Description

Jann Horn of Google Project Zero discovered that NTFS-3G, a read-write NTFS driver for FUSE, does not scrub the environment before executing modprobe with elevated privileges. A local user can take advantage of this flaw for local root privilege escalation.

Exploits (4)

exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Google Security Research · textlocallinux
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41356

This exploit leverages a vulnerability in ntfs-3g's setuid binary to execute modprobe with attacker-controlled environment variables, leading to arbitrary kernel module loading and local privilege escalation. The exploit works by exhausting file descriptors to trigger a fallback to modprobe execution.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: ntfs-3g (versions prior to fix for CVE-2017-0358)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: ntfs-3g installed with setuid root · ability to exhaust file descriptors · write access to /tmp or similar directory
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
exploitdb WORKING POC
by Kristian Erik Hermansen · bashlocallinux
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41240

This exploit leverages CVE-2017-0358 to achieve local privilege escalation (LPE) by exploiting a vulnerability in ntfs-3g. It creates a malicious kernel module that, when loaded, spawns a root shell and copies a setuid shell to /tmp/r00t.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: ntfs-3g (affecting Debian 9/8/7, Ubuntu, Gentoo, and others)
Auth required
Prerequisites: Local access to the system · Ability to compile kernel modules · ntfs-3g installed
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC
by Wangsafz · poc
https://github.com/Wangsafz/cve-2017-0358.sh

This repository contains a functional exploit for CVE-2017-0358, a local privilege escalation vulnerability in ntfs-3g. The exploit leverages a kernel module to escalate privileges to root by manipulating symlinks and executing a shell with elevated permissions.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: ntfs-3g (affecting Debian 9/8/7, Ubuntu, Gentoo, and others)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Local access to the system · Presence of ntfs-3g · Kernel build tools (make, gcc)
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
metasploit WORKING POC GOOD
by [email protected], h00die <[email protected]> · rubypoc
https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/linux/local/ntfs3g_priv_esc.rb

This Metasploit module exploits CVE-2017-0358, a local privilege escalation vulnerability in ntfs-3g on Debian/Ubuntu systems. It abuses improper environment sanitization in the mount helper to load a malicious kernel module, granting root privileges.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: ntfs-3g (Ubuntu 16.04, 16.10; Debian 7, 8, 9)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: gcc · make · linux-headers · vulnerable ntfs-3g version
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (7)

Core 7
Core References
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_gentoo
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201702-10
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_debian
https://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3780
Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry exploit x_refsource_exploit-db
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41240/
Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry exploit x_refsource_exploit-db
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41356/
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/95987
Exploit, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory mailing-list x_refsource_mlist
https://marc.info/?l=oss-security&m=148594671929354&w=2
Mailing List, Third Party Advisory mailing-list x_refsource_mlist
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/02/04/1

Scores

CVSS v3 7.8
EPSS 0.0228
EPSS Percentile 80.8%
Attack Vector LOCAL
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CISA SSVC

Vulnrichment
Exploitation poc
Automatable no
Technical Impact total

Details

CWE
CWE-269
Status published
Products (2)
debian/debian_linux 8.0
tuxera/ntfs-3g < 2016.2.22
Published Apr 13, 2018
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026