# CVE-2017-6516: Privilege escalation in n/a

> Local attackers can exploit setuid-to-root components in MagniComp Sysinfo to gain root privileges via environment variable manipulation.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.7 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 14 Mar 2017
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-2pvq-xmrh-grxp

## What is CVE-2017-6516?

CVE-2017-6516 is a medium-severity vulnerability in n/a, published on 14 Mar 2017. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability in MagniComp's Sysinfo before 10-H64 for Linux and UNIX platforms could allow a local attacker to gain elevated privileges. Parts of SysInfo require setuid-to-root access in order to access restricted system files and make restricted kernel calls. This access could be exploited by a local attacker to gain a root shell prompt using the right combination of environment variables and command line arguments.

Weakness: CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-6516?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Magnicomp Sysinfo.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-6516?

No fix has been published for CVE-2017-6516 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2017-6516 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2017-6516 exists.

Public exploit code:

- MagniComp SysInfo mcsiwrapper Privilege Escalation (metasploit)
- MagniComp SysInfo - mcsiwrapper Privilege Escalation (Metasploit) (exploitdb)
- A PoC / methodology to exploit CVE-2017-6516 (github_poc): https://github.com/Rubytox/CVE-2017-6516-mcsiwrapper-

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2018-9310](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-9310/): Privilege escalation in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2018-7268](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-7268/): Information disclosure in n/a (medium 5.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-6516 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-6516 is a medium-severity vulnerability in n/a, published on 14 Mar 2017. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2017-6516 exists.

Affected product: n/a. 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-2017-6516/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-6516/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-6516
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-6516
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-6516

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-6516/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.