libdbus 1.5.x and earlier, when used in setuid or other privileged programs in X.org and…
Priority LOW 38CWE-264Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- — Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
- Attack complexity
- Medium
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Complete · Complete · Complete
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-264.
Summary
libdbus 1.5.x and earlier, when used in setuid or other privileged programs in X.org and possibly other products, allows local users to gain privileges and execute arbitrary code via the DBUS_SYSTEM_BUS_ADDRESS environment variable. NOTE: libdbus maintainers state that this is a vulnerability in the applications that do not cleanse environment variables, not in libdbus itself: "we do not support use of libdbus in setuid binaries that do not sanitize their environment before their first call into libdbus."
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.04477 91st percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 2 exploit referencesTagged by the CNA and NVD
Fix Fixed Red Hat: 1 advisory
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 7
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:freedesktop:libdbus:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 1.5.12 | Vulnerable | Freedesktop |
| cpe:2.3:a:freedesktop:libdbus:1.5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.5.0 | Vulnerable | Freedesktop |
| cpe:2.3:a:freedesktop:libdbus:1.5.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.5.2 | Vulnerable | Freedesktop |
| cpe:2.3:a:freedesktop:libdbus:1.5.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.5.4 | Vulnerable | Freedesktop |
| cpe:2.3:a:freedesktop:libdbus:1.5.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.5.6 | Vulnerable | Freedesktop |
| cpe:2.3:a:freedesktop:libdbus:1.5.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.5.8 | Vulnerable | Freedesktop |
| cpe:2.3:a:freedesktop:libdbus:1.5.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.5.10 | Vulnerable | Freedesktop |
- cpe:2.3:a:freedesktop:libdbus:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 1.5.12 Vulnerable ·Freedesktop
- cpe:2.3:a:freedesktop:libdbus:1.5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.5.0 Vulnerable ·Freedesktop
- cpe:2.3:a:freedesktop:libdbus:1.5.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.5.2 Vulnerable ·Freedesktop
- cpe:2.3:a:freedesktop:libdbus:1.5.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.5.4 Vulnerable ·Freedesktop
- cpe:2.3:a:freedesktop:libdbus:1.5.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.5.6 Vulnerable ·Freedesktop
- cpe:2.3:a:freedesktop:libdbus:1.5.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.5.8 Vulnerable ·Freedesktop
- cpe:2.3:a:freedesktop:libdbus:1.5.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.5.10 Vulnerable ·Freedesktop
Remediation
Red Hat 1 advisory
- RHSA-2012:1261 Released 2012-09-13 · Red Hat rating Moderatedbus security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) dbus-1:1.2.24-7.el6_3, dbus-libs-1:1.2.24-7.el6_3, dbus-x11-1:1.2.24-7.el6_3
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Optional (v. 6) dbus-1:1.2.24-7.el6_3, dbus-devel-1:1.2.24-7.el6_3, dbus-doc-1:1.2.24-7.el6_3
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6) dbus-1:1.2.24-7.el6_3, dbus-libs-1:1.2.24-7.el6_3, dbus-x11-1:1.2.24-7.el6_3
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node Optional (v. 6) dbus-1:1.2.24-7.el6_3, dbus-devel-1:1.2.24-7.el6_3, dbus-doc-1:1.2.24-7.el6_3
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) dbus-1:1.2.24-7.el6_3, dbus-devel-1:1.2.24-7.el6_3, dbus-devel-1:1.2.24-7.el6_3.ppc +3
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 6) dbus-1:1.2.24-7.el6_3, dbus-doc-1:1.2.24-7.el6_3
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) dbus-1:1.2.24-7.el6_3, dbus-devel-1:1.2.24-7.el6_3, dbus-libs-1:1.2.24-7.el6_3 +1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 6) dbus-1:1.2.24-7.el6_3, dbus-doc-1:1.2.24-7.el6_3
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2012:1261 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2012:1261 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2012:1261 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2012:1261 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2012:1261 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2012:1261 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2012:1261 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2012:1261 |
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2012-3524
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-qw63-7rfw-9cx5
References
Advisory 9
Other 7
- [oss-security] 20120912 libdbus CVE-2012-3524 fix
- [oss-security] 20120726 Re: libdbus hardening
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=847402
- [oss-security] 20120917 Re: libdbus CVE-2012-3524 fix
- [oss-security] 20120710 libdbus hardening
- [oss-security] 20120914 Re: libdbus CVE-2012-3524 fix
- https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=697105
Sources
- CVE-2012-3524 · CVE Program
- CVE-2012-3524 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-qw63-7rfw-9cx5 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2012-3524 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences