CVE-2017-18240: The Gentoo app-admin/collectd package before 5.7.2-r1 sets the ownership of PID file directory to the collectd

Q: How do I fix CVE-2017-18240?

collectd: upgrade to newer than 5.7.2. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2017-18240 being exploited?

CVE-2017-18240 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2017-18240 affect?

CVE-2017-18240 affects collectd. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.5). The Gentoo app-admin/collectd package before 5.7.2-r1 sets the ownership of PID file directory to the collectd account, which might allow local users to kill arbitrary processes by leveraging access to this account for PID file modification

Q: How urgent is CVE-2017-18240?

Priority 27/100. No elevated risk signals yet.

Routine

MEDIUM 5.5UPGRADE

CVE-2017-18240 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.5) affecting collectd. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

The Gentoo app-admin/collectd package before 5.7.2-r1 sets the ownership of PID file directory to the collectd account, which might allow local users to kill arbitrary processes by leveraging access to this account for PID file modification before a root script sends a SIGKILL (when the service is stopped).

Why this priority

No elevated risk signals yet

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	5.5 (Medium)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	0.4% (top 71%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-20
Published	2018-03-19
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: collectd

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2018-03-19 02:29 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 01:12 UTCUpdated Record last modified

collectd collectd UPGRADE

Affected: <= 5.7.2 · 5.7.2 r1

Fixed in: newer than 5.7.2

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy collectd || rpm -q collectd || collectd --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 5.7.2 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade collectd

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade collectd

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2017-18240?

collectd: upgrade to newer than 5.7.2. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2017-18240 being exploited?

CVE-2017-18240 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2017-18240 affect?

CVE-2017-18240 affects collectd. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.5). The Gentoo app-admin/collectd package before 5.7.2-r1 sets the ownership of PID file directory to the collectd account, which might allow local users to kill arbitrary processes by leveraging access to this account for PID file modification

How urgent is CVE-2017-18240?

Priority 27/100. No elevated risk signals yet.

Related CVEs

CVE-2017-7401 HIGH 7.5 UPGRADE Incorrect interaction of the parse_packet() and parse_part_sign_sha256() functions in network.c in collectd 5.
CVE-2017-16820 CRITICAL 9.8 UPGRADE The csnmp_read_table function in snmp.c in the SNMP plugin in collectd before 5.6.3 is susceptible to a double

References

← Back to latest CVEs