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Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2017-6590

🗓️ 24 Aug 2025 00:00:00Reported by TenableType 
nessus
 nessus
🔗 www.tenable.com👁 3 Views

CVE-2017-6590 unpatched in network-manager-applet enables local lightdm access at Ubuntu login; requires physical access, wireless, and a certificate AP; Nautilus browse and Firefox downloads; Nessus uses vendor package data.

Related
Refs
Code
ReporterTitlePublishedViews
Family
CVE
CVE-2017-6590
9 Mar 201719:00
cve
Cvelist
CVE-2017-6590
9 Mar 201719:00
cvelist
Debian CVE
CVE-2017-6590
9 Mar 201719:00
debiancve
EUVD
EUVD-2017-15645
7 Oct 202500:30
euvd
Tenable Nessus
GLSA-201707-09 : GNOME applet for NetworkManager: Arbitrary file read/write
10 Jul 201700:00
nessus
Gentoo Linux
GNOME applet for NetworkManager: Arbitrary file read/write
8 Jul 201700:00
gentoo
NVD
CVE-2017-6590
9 Mar 201719:59
nvd
OSV
DEBIAN-CVE-2017-6590
9 Mar 201719:59
osv
OSV
OPENSUSE-SU-2024:10603-1 NetworkManager-applet-1.24.0-1.2 on GA media
15 Jun 202400:00
osv
OSV
UBUNTU-CVE-2017-6590
9 Mar 201719:59
osv
Rows per page
#%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80900
##
# (C) Tenable, Inc.
##

include('compat.inc');

if (description)
{
  script_id(254405);
  script_version("1.3");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2026/04/28");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2017-6590");

  script_name(english:"Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2017-6590");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed with a vulnerability that the vendor indicates will not be
patched.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed that are impacted by a vulnerability without a vendor supplied
patch available.

  - An issue was discovered in network-manager-applet (aka network-manager-gnome) in Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, 14.04
    LTS, 16.04 LTS, and 16.10. A local attacker could use this issue at the default Ubuntu login screen to
    access local files and execute arbitrary commands as the lightdm user. The exploitation requires physical
    access to the locked computer and the Wi-Fi must be turned on. An access point that lets you use a
    certificate to login is required as well, but it's easy to create one. Then, it's possible to open a
    nautilus window and browse directories. One also can open some applications such as Firefox, which is
    useful for downloading malicious binaries. (CVE-2017-6590)

Note that Nessus relies on the presence of the package as reported by the vendor.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2017-6590");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"There is no known solution at this time.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"agent", value:"unix");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:POC/RL:U/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:P/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:P/RL:U/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2017-6590");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"Exploits are available");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"true");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vendor_unpatched", value:"true");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2017/03/09");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2025/08/24");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:11.0");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:12.0");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:13.0");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:14.0");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:debian:debian_linux:network-manager-applet");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"generated_plugin", value:"current");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_family(english:"Misc.");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2025-2026 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("ssh_get_info2.nasl", "set_linux_os_id.nasl");
  script_require_keys("Host/cpu", "Host/local_checks_enabled", "global_settings/vendor_unpatched", "Host/OS/identifier");
  script_require_ports("Host/OS/Debian Linux-11", "Host/OS/Debian Linux-12", "Host/OS/Debian Linux-13", "Host/OS/Debian Linux-14");

  exit(0);
}

if (!get_kb_item("global_settings/vendor_unpatched")) exit(0, "Unpatched Vulnerabilities Detection not active.");
if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
if (empty_or_null(get_one_kb_item("Host/Debian/dpkg-l"))) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);

include('linux_unpatched.inc');

var distro_constraints_array = {
  "Debian Linux-11": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "11",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "network-manager-gnome"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Debian Linux-12": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "12",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "network-manager-gnome"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Debian Linux-13": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "13",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "network-manager-applet"},
          {"reference": "network-manager-gnome"},
          {"reference": "nm-connection-editor"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Debian Linux-14": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "14",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "network-manager-applet"},
          {"reference": "network-manager-gnome"},
          {"reference": "nm-connection-editor"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
};

var distro_constraints_values = linux_unpatched::get_distro_constraints(distro_constraints_arr:distro_constraints_array);
if (empty_or_null(distro_constraints_values)) audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');
var report = linux_unpatched::check_unpatched_constraints(distro_constraints_values:distro_constraints_values);

if (!empty_or_null(report))
{
  security_report_v4(
      port       : 0,
      severity   : SECURITY_WARNING,
      extra      : report
  );
  exit(0);
}
else
{
  audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');
}

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