CVE-2015-3170

CVE-2015-3170 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Selinux Project Selinux with a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-254.

Key facts

Description

selinux-policy when sysctl fs.protected_hardlinks are set to 0 allows local users to cause a denial of service (SSH login prevention) by creating a hardlink to /etc/passwd from a directory named .config, and updating selinux-policy.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2015-3170?
selinux-policy when sysctl fs.protected_hardlinks are set to 0 allows local users to cause a denial of service (SSH login prevention) by creating a hardlink to /etc/passwd from a directory named .config, and updating selinux-policy.
How severe is CVE-2015-3170?
CVE-2015-3170 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.
Is CVE-2015-3170 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (19th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2015-3170?
CVE-2015-3170 affects Selinux Project Selinux. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2015-3170?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2015-3170 published?
CVE-2015-3170 was published on 2017-07-21 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (1)

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