CVE-2017-1000253
CVE-2017-1000253 is a security flaw in Linux Kernel, the core of Linux, which runs most servers, Android phones and many home routers. Someone who already has a foothold can use Linux Kernel to take full control of the machine. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 9 Sep 2024, and says ransomware gangs have used it.[1]
Linux Kernel is business software or equipment. Most families won’t have it, but attackers break into it to get inside companies, and from there to what those companies hold about their customers, patients and staff. Fixed in version 3.2.70, 3.4.109, 3.10.77 and 3.12.43 and others of linux_kernel.
Description
CISA calls it a PIE stack buffer corruption in Linux Kernel. In its words: “Linux kernel contains a position-independent executable (PIE) stack buffer corruption vulnerability in load_elf_ binary() that allows a local attacker to escalate privileges.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “Linux distributions that have not patched their long-term kernels with https://git.kernel.org/linus/a87938b2e246b81b4fb713edb371a9fa3c5c3c86 (committed on April 14, 2015). This kernel vulnerability was fixed in April 2015 by commit a87938b2e246b81b4fb713edb371a9fa3c5c3c86 (backported to Linux 3.10.77 in May 2015), but it was not recognized as a security threat. With CONFIG_ARCH_BINFMT_ELF_RANDOMIZE_PIE enabled, and a normal top-down address allocation strategy, load_elf_binary() will attempt to map a PIE binary into an address range immediately below mm->mmap_base. Unfortunately, load_elf_ binary() does not take account of the need to allocate sufficient space for the entire binary which means that, while the first PT_LOAD segment is mapped below mm->mmap_base, the subsequent PT_LOAD segment(s) end up being mapped above mm->mmap_base into the are that is supposed to…”[2]
The underlying weakness is memory buffer error (CWE-119), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.
It scores 7.8 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it high, scored by NVD using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record lists these fixed versions: in each line, everything before the version shown is affected.[2]
| Product | Fixed in |
|---|---|
| linux_kernel | 3.2.70 |
| linux_kernel | 3.4.109 |
| linux_kernel | 3.10.77 |
| linux_kernel | 3.12.43 |
| linux_kernel | 3.14.41 |
| linux_kernel | 3.16.35 |
| linux_kernel | 3.18.14 |
| linux_kernel | 3.19.7 |
Most families won’t have Linux Kernel; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 9 Sep 2024, 2,531 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 30 Sep 2024 to fix it.[1] CISA says ransomware gangs have used it.
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 11%. That’s in the top 5% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as not automatable: each attack takes some work.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
Linux has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.Linux Kernel is business software or equipment, so most families won’t have it. If you run a business, or work from home on company equipment, ask whoever looks after your IT.
- Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed (fixed in version 3.2.70, 3.4.109, 3.10.77 and 3.12.43 and others of linux_kernel), or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 30 Sep 2024 to fix it.
- If it can’t be fixed, take it offline.CISA’s advice when there’s no fix is to stop using the product, or take it off the internet, until there is one.
You can’t fix someone else’s server, but you can watch for what follows a break-in like this: a breach notice, a password reset you didn’t ask for, or a scam message that knows things it shouldn’t. HARD watches for those for you and your family.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 7.8.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks, noting that ransomware gangs have used it.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 11%.[4] |
See also
Other Linux Kernel flaws
- CVE-2026-46300: missing initialization of a variable ·
- CVE-2026-53266: out-of-bounds write ·
- CVE-2025-39964: race condition ·
- CVE-2025-39682: improper check for unusual or exceptional conditions ·
- CVE-2026-53362: unspecified ·
- CVE-2022-0995: out-of-bounds write ·
Other memory buffer error flaws
- CVE-2026-88779, Citrix NetScaler: improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer ·
- CVE-2026-88772, Citrix NetScaler: improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer ·
- CVE-2026-88771, Citrix NetScaler: improper input validation ·
- CVE-2026-8452, Citrix NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway: improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer ·
- CVE-2009-3459, Adobe Acrobat and Reader: heap-based buffer overflow ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2024-40766, SonicWall SonicOS: improper access control ·
- CVE-2016-3714, ImageMagick: improper input validation ·
Every Linux flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in September 2024
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Linux Kernel PIE Stack Buffer Corruption Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 9 Sep 2024.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2017-1000253 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 5 Oct 2017.
- ^ Linux. Advisories and fixes: git.kernel.org, qualys.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.107, percentile 95.8, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2017-1000253”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.