CVE-2018-14665

MEDIUM EXPLOITED RANSOMWARE

xorg-x11-server <1.20.3 - Privilege Escalation

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

CVE-2018-14665 has been observed exploited in the wild (reported by VulnCheck KEV), including in ransomware campaigns. EIP tracks 14 public exploits from researchers including Metasploit, Marco Ivaldi, 0xdono, including a Metasploit module exploits/multi/local/xorg_x11_suid_server.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This Metasploit module exploits a privilege escalation vulnerability in Xorg X11 server on IBM AIX systems by overwriting /etc/passwd to create a root user. It leverages flawed permission checks in the -modulepath and -logfile options.

Description

A flaw was found in xorg-x11-server before 1.20.3. An incorrect permission check for -modulepath and -logfile options when starting Xorg. X server allows unprivileged users with the ability to log in to the system via physical console to escalate their privileges and run arbitrary code under root privileges.

Exploits (14)

exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Metasploit · rubylocalunix
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/47701

This Metasploit module exploits a privilege escalation vulnerability in Xorg X11 server on IBM AIX systems by overwriting /etc/passwd to create a root user. It leverages flawed permission checks in the -modulepath and -logfile options.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Xorg X11 Server on IBM AIX 6.1, 7.1, 7.2
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Unprivileged access to an AIX system with vulnerable Xorg · Ability to execute Xorg · Write access to a directory (default /tmp)
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Metasploit · rubylocalmultiple
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45908

This Metasploit module exploits CVE-2018-14665, a privilege escalation vulnerability in Xorg X11 server versions 1.19.0 to 1.20.2. It leverages flawed permission checks for the -modulepath and -logfile options to overwrite /etc/crontab and execute arbitrary code as root.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Xorg X11 Server 1.19.0 to 1.20.2
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Xorg binary with SUID permissions · Unprivileged user with console access (Linux) · Xorg not already running
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
exploitdb WORKING POC
by Marco Ivaldi · bashlocalsolaris
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46142

This exploit leverages CVE-2018-14665 to escalate privileges on Solaris 11 by abusing incorrect permission checks in xorg-x11-server for -modulepath and -logfile options. It modifies /etc/inittab to execute a setuid shell, granting root access.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: xorg-x11-server < 1.20.3
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Local access to a vulnerable Solaris 11 system · xorg-x11-server version 1.19.0 - 1.20.2
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
exploitdb WORKING POC
by 0xdono · perllocalaix
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45938

This exploit leverages incorrect command-line parameter validation in the Xorg X server on AIX to overwrite /etc/passwd, creating a new user with root privileges. It uses the '-config' and '-logfile' arguments to inject malicious content into the passwd file.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: X Window System Version 7.1.1 on AIX (X11.base.rte < 7.1.5.32)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Local access to the AIX system · Xorg X server running with elevated privileges · ksh93 installed
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
exploitdb WORKING POC
by Marco Ivaldi · bashlocalmultiple
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45922

This exploit leverages CVE-2018-14665 to escalate privileges to root by abusing the -modulepath option in Xorg. It compiles a malicious shared library that spawns a root shell when loaded by the X server.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: xorg-x11-server before 1.20.3
Auth required
Prerequisites: physical console access · gcc compiler · vulnerable Xorg version
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
exploitdb WORKING POC
by bolonobolo · pythonlocallinux
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45832

This exploit leverages CVE-2018-14665 to escalate privileges on RHEL 7 systems by abusing Xorg's file permissions to overwrite /etc/crontab and execute a payload as root. It requires a non-root user to be logged in via console.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: xorg-x11-server < 1.20.1
Auth required
Prerequisites: Non-root user logged in via console · Access to the target system
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
exploitdb WORKING POC
by Marco Ivaldi · bashlocalopenbsd
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45742

This exploit leverages CVE-2018-14665 in xorg-x11-server (1.19.0-1.20.2) to escalate privileges to root on OpenBSD by abusing incorrect permission checks for -modulepath and -logfile options. It injects a malicious cron job to compile and set a setuid root shell.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: xorg-x11-server 1.19.0 - 1.20.2
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Access to a user session on OpenBSD 6.3/6.4 · xorg-x11-server with vulnerable version installed
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
exploitdb WORKING POC
by Hacker Fantastic · textlocalmultiple
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45697

This exploit leverages CVE-2018-14665 to overwrite the /etc/master.passwd file on OpenBSD systems by abusing the Xorg server's -fp and -logfile options, allowing local privilege escalation to root.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Xorg 1.19.0 - 1.20.2
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Local access to the target system · Xorg server installed and running with setuid privileges
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 17 stars
by jas502n · local
https://github.com/jas502n/CVE-2018-14665

This repository contains a functional local privilege escalation (LPE) exploit for CVE-2018-14665, targeting Xorg X Server versions 1.19.0 to 1.20.2 on OpenBSD 6.3 and 6.4. The exploit abuses the -logfile parameter to overwrite /etc/master.passwd with a root user entry, allowing password-based root access.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Xorg X Server 1.19.0 - 1.20.2 on OpenBSD 6.3/6.4
Auth required
Prerequisites: Local account access · Ability to execute Xorg with elevated privileges
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC
by bolonobolo · poc
https://github.com/bolonobolo/CVE-2018-14665

This is a functional local privilege escalation (LPE) exploit for CVE-2018-14665, targeting Xorg server versions < 1.20.1 on RHEL 7. It leverages improper file permissions to overwrite /etc/crontab and execute arbitrary commands as root.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: xorg-x11-server < 1.20.1 (RHEL 7)
Auth required
Prerequisites: Local user access · User must have an active console session (file in /var/run/console/)
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
vulncheck_xdb WORKING POC
local
https://github.com/0xdea/exploits

This repository contains functional exploit code for CVE-2018-14665, targeting Xorg's -logfile and -modulepath vulnerabilities for local privilege escalation on Solaris and OpenBSD. The exploits are well-documented and include multiple variants for different architectures and environments.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Xorg (Solaris 11, OpenBSD 6.3/6.4)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Local access to the target system · Xorg running with vulnerable configuration
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 25, 2026 Full analysis →
metasploit WORKING POC GOOD
by Narendra Shinde, Raptor - 0xdea, Aaron Ringo, bcoles · rubypocunix
https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/multi/local/xorg_x11_suid_server.rb

This Metasploit module exploits a privilege escalation vulnerability in Xorg X11 Server (CVE-2018-14665) by leveraging improper permission checks on the -modulepath and -logfile options to overwrite /etc/crontab and execute arbitrary code as root.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Xorg X11 Server versions 1.19.0 to 1.20.2
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Xorg X11 Server with SUID permissions · Ability to start the Xorg server · Writable directory (default /tmp) · Console lock on Linux systems (if enabled)
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
metasploit WORKING POC GOOD
by Narendra Shinde, Aaron Ringo · rubypoclinux
https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/multi/local/xorg_x11_suid_server_modulepath.rb

This Metasploit module exploits a privilege escalation vulnerability in Xorg X11 server (CVE-2018-14665) by leveraging improper permission checks on the -modulepath and -logfile options. It compiles a shared object to gain root privileges via a malicious constructor function.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Xorg X11 server versions 1.19.0 to 1.20.2
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Xorg X11 server with SUID permissions · Unprivileged user access to start the server · Writable directory for payload
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
metasploit WORKING POC GREAT
by Narendra Shinde · rubypoc
https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/aix/local/xorg_x11_server.rb

This Metasploit module exploits a permission check flaw in Xorg X11 Server on AIX systems, allowing local privilege escalation by overwriting /etc/passwd to create a root user. It leverages the -modulepath and -logfile options to inject malicious configurations.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Xorg X11 Server on IBM AIX (versions 6.1, 7.1, 7.2)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Local access to the target system · Xorg X11 Server installed · Unprivileged user with permission to start Xorg
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 19, 2026 Full analysis →

References (20)

Core 20
Core References
Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry exploit x_refsource_exploit-db
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45742/
Mitigation, Patch, Vendor Advisory mailing-list x_refsource_mlist
https://lists.x.org/archives/xorg-announce/2018-October/002927.html
Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry exploit x_refsource_exploit-db
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45922/
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_ubuntu
https://usn.ubuntu.com/3802-1/
Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry exploit x_refsource_exploit-db
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45697/
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_redhat
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3410
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105741
Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry exploit x_refsource_exploit-db
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45908/
Exploit, Third Party Advisory x_refsource_misc
https://www.securepatterns.com/2018/10/cve-2018-14665-xorg-x-server.html
Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry exploit x_refsource_exploit-db
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46142/
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_gentoo
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201810-09
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_sectrack
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1041948
Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory x_refsource_confirm
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2018-14665
Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry exploit x_refsource_exploit-db
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45832/
Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry exploit x_refsource_exploit-db
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45938/
Third Party Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_debian
https://www.debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4328

Scores

CVSS v3 6.6
EPSS 0.1603
EPSS Percentile 94.9%
Attack Vector PHYSICAL
CVSS:3.0/AV:P/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Details

VulnCheck KEV 2020-10-01
Ransomware Use Confirmed
CWE
CWE-863
Status published
Products (11)
canonical/ubuntu_linux 16.04
canonical/ubuntu_linux 18.04
canonical/ubuntu_linux 18.10
debian/debian_linux 9.0
redhat/enterprise_linux_desktop 7.0
redhat/enterprise_linux_server 7.0
redhat/enterprise_linux_server_aus 7.6
redhat/enterprise_linux_server_eus 7.6
redhat/enterprise_linux_server_tus 7.6
redhat/enterprise_linux_workstation 7.0
... and 1 more
Published Oct 25, 2018
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026