CVE-2017-6970: AlienVault USM and OSSIM before 5.3.7 and NfSen before 1.3.8 allow local users to execute arbitrary commands i

Q: How do I fix CVE-2017-6970?

ossim: upgrade to newer than 5.3.6; unified security management: upgrade to newer than 5.3.6; nfsen: upgrade to newer than 1.3.7. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2017-6970 being exploited?

CVE-2017-6970 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-2017-6970 affect?

CVE-2017-6970 affects ossim, unified security management, nfsen. Severity is high (CVSS 8.4). AlienVault USM and OSSIM before 5.3.7 and NfSen before 1.3.8 allow local users to execute arbitrary commands in a privileged context via an NfSen socket, aka AlienVault ID ENG-104863.

Q: How urgent is CVE-2017-6970?

Priority 54/100. High severity; Public exploit reference

This month

HIGH 8.4UPGRADEUPGRADEUPGRADE

CVE-2017-6970 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 8.4) affecting ossim, unified security management, nfsen. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

AlienVault USM and OSSIM before 5.3.7 and NfSen before 1.3.8 allow local users to execute arbitrary commands in a privileged context via an NfSen socket, aka AlienVault ID ENG-104863.

Why this priority

High severity
Public exploit reference

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	8.4 (High)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	1.7% (top 23%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-78
Published	2017-03-22
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: alienvault · nfsen

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2017-03-22 14:59 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 01:23 UTCUpdated Record last modified

alienvault ossim UPGRADE

Affected: <= 5.3.6

Fixed in: newer than 5.3.6

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to newer than 5.3.6 (Debian / Ubuntu)

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

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade ossim

Note

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

alienvault unified security management UPGRADE

Affected: <= 5.3.6

Fixed in: newer than 5.3.6

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy unified-security-management || rpm -q unified-security-management || unified-security-management --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 5.3.6 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade unified-security-management

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade unified-security-management

Note

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

nfsen nfsen UPGRADE

Affected: <= 1.3.7

Fixed in: newer than 1.3.7

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to newer than 1.3.7 (Debian / Ubuntu)

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

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade nfsen

Note

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

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

Exploit-DB: NfSen < 1.3.7 / AlienVault OSSIM < 5.3.6 - Local Privilege Escalation

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-2017-6970?

ossim: upgrade to newer than 5.3.6; unified security management: upgrade to newer than 5.3.6; nfsen: upgrade to newer than 1.3.7. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2017-6970 being exploited?

CVE-2017-6970 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-2017-6970 affect?

CVE-2017-6970 affects ossim, unified security management, nfsen. Severity is high (CVSS 8.4). AlienVault USM and OSSIM before 5.3.7 and NfSen before 1.3.8 allow local users to execute arbitrary commands in a privileged context via an NfSen socket, aka AlienVault ID ENG-104863.

How urgent is CVE-2017-6970?

Priority 54/100. High severity; Public exploit reference

Related CVEs

CVE-2017-6972 CRITICAL 9.8 UPGRADE UPGRADE AlienVault USM and OSSIM before 5.3.7 and NfSen before 1.3.8 have an error in privilege dropping and unnecessa
CVE-2017-6971 HIGH 8.8 UPGRADE UPGRADE AlienVault USM and OSSIM before 5.3.7 and NfSen before 1.3.8 allow remote authenticated users to execute arbit
CVE-2016-7955 CRITICAL 9.8 UPGRADE UPGRADE The logcheck function in session.inc in AlienVault OSSIM before 5.3.1, when an action has been created, and US

References

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