GNOME Display Manager (gdm) before 2.21.1 allows local users to change permissions of…
Priority LOW 31CWE-59Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- — Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
- Attack complexity
- Medium
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Complete · Complete · Complete
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
GNOME Display Manager (gdm) before 2.21.1 allows local users to change permissions of arbitrary directories via a symlink attack on /tmp/.X11-unix/.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.00371 31st percentileScored 2026-11-07
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 · 44
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 2.21 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:0.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.7 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.0 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.0 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.2 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.13 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.14 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.14.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.14.1 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.14.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.14.2 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.14.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.14.3 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 2.21 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:0.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.7 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.0 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.0 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.2 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.13 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.14 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.14.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.14.1 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.14.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.14.2 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.14.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.14.3 Vulnerable ·GNOME
Show 34 more CPE
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.14.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.14.4 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.14.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.14.5 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.14.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.14.6 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.14.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.14.7 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.14.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.14.8 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.14.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.14.9 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.14.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.14.10 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.14.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.14.11 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.14.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.14.12 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.15 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.16 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.16.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.16.1 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.16.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.16.2 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.17:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.17 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.18:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.18 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.18.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.18.1 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.18.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.18.2 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.18.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.18.3 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.19:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.19 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.19.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.19.1 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.19.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.19.2 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.19.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.19.3 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.19.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.19.4 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.20.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.20.0 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.20.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.20.1 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.20.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.20.2 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.20.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.20.3 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.20.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.20.4 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.20.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.20.5 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.20.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.20.6 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.20.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.20.7 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.20.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.20.8 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.20.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.20.9 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
| cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.20.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.20.10 | Vulnerable | GNOME |
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.14.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.14.4 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.14.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.14.5 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.14.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.14.6 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.14.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.14.7 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.14.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.14.8 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.14.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.14.9 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.14.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.14.10 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.14.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.14.11 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.14.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.14.12 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.15 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.16 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.16.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.16.1 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.16.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.16.2 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.17:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.17 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.18:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.18 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.18.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.18.1 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.18.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.18.2 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.18.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.18.3 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.19:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.19 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.19.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.19.1 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.19.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.19.2 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.19.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.19.3 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.19.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.19.4 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.20.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.20.0 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.20.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.20.1 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.20.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.20.2 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.20.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.20.3 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.20.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.20.4 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.20.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.20.5 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.20.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.20.6 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.20.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.20.7 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.20.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.20.8 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.20.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.20.9 Vulnerable ·GNOME
- cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome_display_manager:2.20.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.20.10 Vulnerable ·GNOME
Remediation
Red Hat 1 advisory
- RHSA-2013:1213 Released 2013-09-05 · Red Hat rating Importantgdm security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5 server) gdm-1:2.16.0-59.el5_9.1, gdm-1:2.16.0-59.el5_9.1.i386, gdm-1:2.16.0-59.el5_9.1.ia64 +9
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5 server) | Fixed | RHSA-2013:1213 |
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2013-4169
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-j642-2qgg-v4wq
References
More Gnome Display Manager vulnerabilities
- TI-2018-10342 The daemon in GDM through 3.29.1 does not properly unexport display objects from its… CVSS 3.0HIGH 7.8
- TI-2020-12684 gdm3 would start gnome-initial-setup if it cannot contact accountservice CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.2
- TI-2015-06234 GNOME Display Manager (gdm) before 3.18.2 allows physically proximate attackers to bypass… CVSS 2.0HIGH 7.2
- TI-2019-02837 Improper authentication in Gnome Projectr gdm CVSS 3.0MEDIUM 6.4
- TI-2017-08954 A flaw was discovered in gdm 3.24.1 where gdm greeter was no longer setting the ran_once… CVSS 3.0MEDIUM 6.4
- TI-2020-16907 Race condition in gdm CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.4
Sources
- CVE-2013-4169 · CVE Program
- CVE-2013-4169 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-j642-2qgg-v4wq · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2013-4169 · 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