CVE-2017-18344

MEDIUM

Linux Kernel < 4.14.8 - Out-of-bounds Read via timer_create sigev_notify Field

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 1 public exploit for CVE-2017-18344. PoCs published by Andrey Konovalov.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit leverages CVE-2017-18344 to bypass KASLR and SMEP, allowing arbitrary kernel memory reads. It demonstrates searching for and dumping sensitive data (e.g., /etc/shadow) by mapping physical memory.

Description

The timer_create syscall implementation in kernel/time/posix-timers.c in the Linux kernel before 4.14.8 doesn't properly validate the sigevent->sigev_notify field, which leads to out-of-bounds access in the show_timer function (called when /proc/$PID/timers is read). This allows userspace applications to read arbitrary kernel memory (on a kernel built with CONFIG_POSIX_TIMERS and CONFIG_CHECKPOINT_RESTORE).

Exploits (1)

exploitdb WORKING POC
by Andrey Konovalov · clocallinux
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45175

This exploit leverages CVE-2017-18344 to bypass KASLR and SMEP, allowing arbitrary kernel memory reads. It demonstrates searching for and dumping sensitive data (e.g., /etc/shadow) by mapping physical memory.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Complex
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Linux kernel versions 4.4.0-116-generic, 4.13.0-38-generic, and 3.10.0-862.9.1.el7.x86_64
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Local access to the target system · Kernel version vulnerable to CVE-2017-18344
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (15)

Core 15
Core References
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_redhat
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3540
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_redhat
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3083
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_redhat
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3591
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_redhat
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3459
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_sectrack
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1041414
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_redhat
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3590
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_redhat
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:2948
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_ubuntu
https://usn.ubuntu.com/3742-2/
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/104909
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_ubuntu
https://usn.ubuntu.com/3742-1/
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_redhat
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3586
Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry exploit x_refsource_exploit-db
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45175/
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_redhat
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3096

Scores

CVSS v3 5.5
EPSS 0.1161
EPSS Percentile 93.8%
Attack Vector LOCAL
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

Details

CWE
CWE-125
Status published
Products (15)
canonical/ubuntu_linux 12.04
canonical/ubuntu_linux 14.04
linux/linux_kernel < 4.14.8
redhat/enterprise_linux_desktop 7.0
redhat/enterprise_linux_server 7.0
redhat/enterprise_linux_server_aus 7.2
redhat/enterprise_linux_server_aus 7.3
redhat/enterprise_linux_server_aus 7.4
redhat/enterprise_linux_server_eus 7.3
redhat/enterprise_linux_server_eus 7.5
... and 5 more
Published Jul 26, 2018
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026