Unchecked Return Value Affecting inetutils package, versions <2:1.9.4-1ubuntu0.1~esm3


Severity

Recommended
medium

Based on Ubuntu security rating.

Threat Intelligence

EPSS
0.04% (13th percentile)

Do your applications use this vulnerable package?

In a few clicks we can analyze your entire application and see what components are vulnerable in your application, and suggest you quick fixes.

Test your applications
  • Snyk IDSNYK-UBUNTU1604-INETUTILS-5840744
  • published30 Sept 2025
  • disclosed14 Aug 2023

Introduced: 14 Aug 2023

CVE-2023-40303  (opens in a new tab)
CWE-252  (opens in a new tab)

How to fix?

Upgrade Ubuntu:16.04 inetutils to version 2:1.9.4-1ubuntu0.1~esm3 or higher.

NVD Description

Note: Versions mentioned in the description apply only to the upstream inetutils package and not the inetutils package as distributed by Ubuntu. See How to fix? for Ubuntu:16.04 relevant fixed versions and status.

GNU inetutils before 2.5 may allow privilege escalation because of unchecked return values of set*id() family functions in ftpd, rcp, rlogin, rsh, rshd, and uucpd. This is, for example, relevant if the setuid system call fails when a process is trying to drop privileges before letting an ordinary user control the activities of the process.

CVSS Base Scores

version 3.1