# CVE-2017-17448: Missing authorization in n/a

> Local users can bypass access restrictions in the Linux kernel netfilter subsystem due to missing capability checks on netlink operations.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 7 Dec 2017
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2017-17448, GHSA-q8pc-q7mj-47x6, UBUNTU-CVE-2017-17448

## What is CVE-2017-17448?

CVE-2017-17448 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 7 Dec 2017. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

net/netfilter/nfnetlink_cthelper.c in the Linux kernel through 4.14.4 does not require the CAP_NET_ADMIN capability for new, get, and del operations, which allows local users to bypass intended access restrictions because the nfnl_cthelper_list data structure is shared across all net namespaces.

Weakness: CWE-862 (Missing Authorization)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-17448?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-17448?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2017-17448 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-17448 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

- [CVE-2026-53266](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53266/): Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-6282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6282/): Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-0185](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0185/): Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-2094](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2094/): Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-53362](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53362/): Linux Kernel Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-17448 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-17448 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 7 Dec 2017. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-17448 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux kernel. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-17448/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-17448/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-17448
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-17448
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-17448

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-17448/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.