# CVE-2023-6917: Pcp: unsafe use of directories allows pcp to root privilege escalation

Status: published. Published: 2024-02-28. Updated: 2026-11-05.

A vulnerability has been identified in the Performance Co-Pilot (PCP) package, stemming from the mixed privilege levels utilized by systemd services associated with PCP. While certain services operate within the confines of limited PCP user/group privileges, others are granted full root privileges. This disparity in privilege levels poses a risk when privileged root processes interact with directories or directory trees owned by unprivileged PCP users. Specifically, this vulnerability may lead to the compromise of PCP user isolation and facilitate local PCP-to-root exploits, particularly through symlink attacks. These vulnerabilities underscore the importance of maintaining robust privilege separation mechanisms within PCP to mitigate the potential for unauthorized privilege escalation.

## Remediation

- workaround: Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability. (source: CNA: redhat)

## Affected products and versions

- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 (pcp): ≥ 0:6.2.0-1.el9; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 (pcp): Version range not reported. Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 (pcp): Version range not reported. Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 (pcp): Version range not reported. Source: CNA: redhat

## Severity and prioritization

- CVSS 3.1: 6 (medium); CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N; source: CNA: redhat

- CISA KEV: No listing in collected sources

- EPSS: 0.20% as of 2026-11-04; percentile 10.21%

- SSVC: exploitation none; automatable no; technical impact total; source ADP: CISA-ADP

- Weaknesses: CWE-367

## Exploit evidence

No exploit evidence in collected sources. This is not proof of no exploitation.

## References

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:2213 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-6917 (CNA: redhat; vdb-entry, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2254983 (CNA: redhat; issue-tracking, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:2213 (ADP: CVE; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT, x_transferred)

- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-6917 (ADP: CVE; vdb-entry, x_refsource_REDHAT, x_transferred)

- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2254983 (ADP: CVE; issue-tracking, x_refsource_REDHAT, x_transferred)

## Provenance

- CNA: redhat: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-6917; retrieved 2026-11-05; source updated 2026-11-05

- FIRST EPSS: https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2023-6917; retrieved 2026-11-05; source updated Not reported

Revision: e47355b2708b68c8ef90e2511cab1fe87ffa06cd6548409263d6b9b986e9748e

Canonical: https://y2.dev/cve/CVE-2023-6917

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