An incorrect permission check for -modulepath and -logfile options when starting Xorg X server allows unprivileged users with the ability to log in to the system via physical console to escalate their privileges and run arbitrary code under root privileges.
Find out more about CVE-2018-14665 from the MITRE CVE dictionary dictionary and NIST NVD.
This issue did not affect the versions of xorg-x11-server as shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 and 6, as well as Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 prior to 7.4, as they did not allow the use of vulnerable command line options when running with elevated privileges.
The default X server configuration in Red Hat Enterprise Linux only allows users logged in on the system's physical console to run Xorg X server. Therefore, users which only have remote access to the the system (for example using SSH) can not exploit this flaw.
| CVSS3 Base Score | 6.6 |
|---|---|
| CVSS3 Base Metrics | CVSS:3.0/AV:P/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| Attack Vector | Physical |
| Attack Complexity | Low |
| Privileges Required | Low |
| User Interaction | None |
| Scope | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality | High |
| Integrity Impact | High |
| Availability Impact | High |
| Platform | Errata | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 (xorg-x11-server) | RHSA-2018:3410 | 2018-10-30 |
| Platform | Package | State |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | xorg-x11-server | Not affected |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | xorg-x11-server | Not affected |
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