Description
GNU screen before 4.5.1 allows local users to modify arbitrary files and consequently gain root privileges by leveraging improper checking of logfile permissions.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | screen | 4.5.0-3 | — |
| Debian 13 | screen | 4.5.0-3 | — |
| Debian 12 | screen | 4.5.0-3 | — |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | screen | 4.8.0-3.17 | openSUSE-SU-2024:11374-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.5 | screen | 4.5.1 | — |
Advisories 1
- openSUSE-SU-2024:11374-1 screen-4.8.0-3.17 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- http://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/screen.git/tree/src/ChangeLog?h=v.4.5.1
- http://savannah.gnu.org/bugs/?50142
- [oss-security] 20170129 Re: CVE request: GNU screen escalation mailing-list
- http://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/screen.git/patch/?id=1c6d2817926d30c9a7a97d99af7ac5de4a5845b8
- 95873 vdb-entry
- [screen-devel] 20170124 [bug #50142] root exploit 4.5.0 mailing-list