CVE-2018-1122: procps-ng before version 3.3.15 is vulnerable to a local privilege escalation in top

Q: How do I fix CVE-2018-1122?

procps-ng: upgrade to 3.3.15; ubuntu linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2018-1122 being exploited?

CVE-2018-1122 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-2018-1122 affect?

CVE-2018-1122 affects procps-ng, ubuntu linux, debian linux. Severity is high (CVSS 7.3). procps-ng before version 3.3.15 is vulnerable to a local privilege escalation in top. If a user runs top with HOME unset in an attacker-controlled directory, the attacker could achieve privilege escalation by exploiting one of several vulne

Q: How urgent is CVE-2018-1122?

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

This month

HIGH 7.3WATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2018-1122 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.3) affecting procps-ng, ubuntu linux, debian linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

procps-ng before version 3.3.15 is vulnerable to a local privilege escalation in top. If a user runs top with HOME unset in an attacker-controlled directory, the attacker could achieve privilege escalation by exploiting one of several vulnerabilities in the config_file() function.

Why this priority

High severity
Public exploit reference
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.3 (High)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	1.3% (top 30%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-829
Published	2018-05-23
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): Red Hat, Inc. · Vendor: canonical · debian · procps-ng project

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2018-05-23 14:29 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 01:50 UTCUpdated Record last modified

procps-ng project procps-ng UPGRADE

Affected: < 3.3.15

Fixed in: 3.3.15

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy procps-ng || rpm -q procps-ng || procps-ng --version

2. UPGRADE to 3.3.15 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade procps-ng

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade procps-ng

Note

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

canonical ubuntu linux MITIGATE

Affected: 12.04 · 14.04 · 16.04 · 17.10 · 18.04

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 12.04

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.

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: Procps-ng - Multiple Vulnerabilities

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-2018-1122?

procps-ng: upgrade to 3.3.15; ubuntu linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2018-1122 being exploited?

CVE-2018-1122 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-2018-1122 affect?

CVE-2018-1122 affects procps-ng, ubuntu linux, debian linux. Severity is high (CVSS 7.3). procps-ng before version 3.3.15 is vulnerable to a local privilege escalation in top. If a user runs top with HOME unset in an attacker-controlled directory, the attacker could achieve privilege escalation by exploiting one of several vulne

How urgent is CVE-2018-1122?

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

Software pages

Ubuntu vulnerabilities · Debian vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2018-1126 MEDIUM 4.8 UPGRADE MITIGATE procps-ng before version 3.3.15 is vulnerable to an incorrect integer size in proc/alloc.* leading to truncati
CVE-2018-1125 HIGH 7.5 UPGRADE MITIGATE procps-ng before version 3.3.15 is vulnerable to a stack buffer overflow in pgrep
CVE-2018-1124 HIGH 7.8 UPGRADE MITIGATE procps-ng before version 3.3.15 is vulnerable to multiple integer overflows leading to a heap corruption in fi
CVE-2018-1123 LOW 3.9 UPGRADE MITIGATE procps-ng before version 3.3.15 is vulnerable to a denial of service in ps via mmap buffer overflow

References

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