CVE-2018-0492: Johnathan Nightingale beep through 1.3.4, if setuid, has a race condition that allows local privilege escalati

Q: How do I fix CVE-2018-0492?

beep: upgrade to newer than 1.3.4; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2018-0492 being exploited?

CVE-2018-0492 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-2018-0492 affect?

CVE-2018-0492 affects beep, debian linux. Severity is high (CVSS 7.0). Johnathan Nightingale beep through 1.3.4, if setuid, has a race condition that allows local privilege escalation.

Q: How urgent is CVE-2018-0492?

Priority 53/100. High severity; Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

This month

HIGH 7.0WATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2018-0492 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.0) affecting beep, debian linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Johnathan Nightingale beep through 1.3.4, if setuid, has a race condition that allows local privilege escalation.

Why this priority

High severity
Public exploit reference
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.0 (High)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	High
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	1.6% (top 25%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-362
Published	2018-04-03
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): Debian GNU/Linux · Vendor: beep project · debian

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2018-04-03 07:29 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 01:30 UTCUpdated Record last modified

beep project beep UPGRADE

Affected: <= 1.3.4

Fixed in: newer than 1.3.4

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to newer than 1.3.4 (Debian / Ubuntu)

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

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade beep

Note

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

debian debian linux MITIGATE

Affected: 7.0 · 8.0 · 9.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 7.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

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: GNU Beep 1.3 - 'HoleyBeep' 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-2018-0492?

beep: upgrade to newer than 1.3.4; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2018-0492 being exploited?

CVE-2018-0492 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-2018-0492 affect?

CVE-2018-0492 affects beep, debian linux. Severity is high (CVSS 7.0). Johnathan Nightingale beep through 1.3.4, if setuid, has a race condition that allows local privilege escalation.

How urgent is CVE-2018-0492?

Priority 53/100. High severity; Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

Software pages

Debian vulnerabilities

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References

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