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TI-2013-03754 Aliases CVE-2013-4288GHSA-6wv7-fpg8-f44q

Race condition in PolicyKit (aka polkit) allows local users to bypass intended PolicyKit…

Priority LOW 32CWE-362Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
Privileges required
None
User interaction
— Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
Attack complexity
Low
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

Race condition in PolicyKit (aka polkit) allows local users to bypass intended PolicyKit restrictions and gain privileges by starting a setuid or pkexec process before the authorization check is performed, related to (1) the polkit_unix_process_new API function, (2) the dbus API, or (3) the --process (unix-process) option for authorization to pkcheck.

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.00342 27th 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

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
——all versions—No fix listedCNA
  • — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 8

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:opensuse:12.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*12.2VulnerableopenSUSE
cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:opensuse:12.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*12.3VulnerableopenSUSE
cpe:2.3:a:polkit_project:polkit:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 0.112.1VulnerablePolkit Project
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:10.04:-:lts:*:*:*:*:*10.04VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:-:lts:*:*:*:*:*12.04VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*12.10VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:13.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:*13.04VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*6.0VulnerableRed Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:opensuse:12.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 12.2 Vulnerable ·openSUSE
  • cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:opensuse:12.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 12.3 Vulnerable ·openSUSE
  • cpe:2.3:a:polkit_project:polkit:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 0.112.1 Vulnerable ·Polkit Project
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:10.04:-:lts:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:-:lts:*:*:*:*:* Versions 12.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 12.10 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:13.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 13.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat

Remediation

Red Hat 1 advisory

  • RHSA-2013:1270 Released 2013-09-19 · Red Hat rating Important
    polkit security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) polkit-0.96-5.el6_4, polkit-desktop-policy-0.96-5.el6_4
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Optional (v. 6) polkit-0.96-5.el6_4, polkit-devel-0.96-5.el6_4, polkit-docs-0.96-5.el6_4
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6) polkit-0.96-5.el6_4
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node Optional (v. 6) polkit-0.96-5.el6_4, polkit-desktop-policy-0.96-5.el6_4, polkit-devel-0.96-5.el6_4 +1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) polkit-0.96-5.el6_4, polkit-0.96-5.el6_4.ppc, polkit-desktop-policy-0.96-5.el6_4 +3
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) polkit-0.96-5.el6_4, polkit-desktop-policy-0.96-5.el6_4, polkit-devel-0.96-5.el6_4 +1

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6)Fixed RHSA-2013:1270
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Optional (v. 6)Fixed RHSA-2013:1270
Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6)Fixed RHSA-2013:1270
Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node Optional (v. 6)Fixed RHSA-2013:1270
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6)Fixed RHSA-2013:1270
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6)Fixed RHSA-2013:1270
Not affected: 1 product
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2013-4288
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-6wv7-fpg8-f44q

References

Patch 1

Advisory 9

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences