In PolicyKit (aka polkit) 0.115, the "start time" protection mechanism can be bypassed…
Priority LOW 30CWE-362Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 20 fixed, 1 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
In PolicyKit (aka polkit) 0.115, the "start time" protection mechanism can be bypassed because fork() is not atomic, and therefore authorization decisions are improperly cached. This is related to lack of uid checking in polkitbackend/polkitbackendinteractiveauthority.c.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.00446 39th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Red Hat: 5 advisoriesRed Hat: 20 fixed, 1 without a fix
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 · 17
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:polkit_project:polkit:0.115:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.115 | Vulnerable | Polkit Project |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.6 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.6 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.6 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
- cpe:2.3:a:polkit_project:polkit:0.115:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.115 Vulnerable ·Polkit Project
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
Show 7 more CPE
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:6.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.6 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* | 12.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 14.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 16.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 18.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 18.10 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:6.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* Versions 12.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 14.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 16.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 18.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 18.10 Vulnerable ·Canonical
Remediation
Red Hat 5 advisories
- RHSA-2019:2978 Released 2019-10-08 · Red Hat rating Importantpolkit security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode EUS (v. 7.5) polkit-0.112-14.el7_5.1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional EUS (v. 7.5) polkit-devel-0.112-14.el7_5.1, polkit-docs-0.112-14.el7_5.1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 7.5) polkit-0.112-14.el7_5.1, polkit-0.112-14.el7_5.1.ppc, polkit-devel-0.112-14.el7_5.1 +2
- RHSA-2019:2699 Released 2019-09-12 · Red Hat rating Importantpolkit security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode EUS (v. 7.4) polkit-0.112-12.el7_4.1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional EUS (v. 7.4) polkit-devel-0.112-12.el7_4.1, polkit-docs-0.112-12.el7_4.1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 7.4) polkit-0.112-12.el7_4.1, polkit-0.112-12.el7_4.1.ppc, polkit-devel-0.112-12.el7_4.1 +2
- RHSA-2019:0832 Released 2019-04-23 · Red Hat rating Importantpolkit security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server AUS (v. 6.6) polkit-0.96-7.el6_6.1, polkit-desktop-policy-0.96-7.el6_6.1, polkit-devel-0.96-7.el6_6.1 +1
Show 2 more Red Hat advisories
- RHSA-2019:0420 Released 2019-02-26 · Red Hat rating Importantpolkit security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) polkit-0.96-11.el6_10.1, polkit-desktop-policy-0.96-11.el6_10.1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Optional (v. 6) polkit-devel-0.96-11.el6_10.1, polkit-docs-0.96-11.el6_10.1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6) polkit-0.96-11.el6_10.1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node Optional (v. 6) polkit-desktop-policy-0.96-11.el6_10.1, polkit-devel-0.96-11.el6_10.1, polkit-docs-0.96-11.el6_10.1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) polkit-0.96-11.el6_10.1, polkit-0.96-11.el6_10.1.ppc, polkit-desktop-policy-0.96-11.el6_10.1 +3
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) polkit-0.96-11.el6_10.1, polkit-desktop-policy-0.96-11.el6_10.1, polkit-devel-0.96-11.el6_10.1 +1
- RHSA-2019:0230 Released 2019-01-31 · Red Hat rating Importantpolkit security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) polkit-0.112-18.el7_6.1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) polkit-devel-0.112-18.el7_6.1, polkit-docs-0.112-18.el7_6.1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) polkit-0.112-18.el7_6.1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) polkit-devel-0.112-18.el7_6.1, polkit-docs-0.112-18.el7_6.1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) polkit-0.112-18.el7_6.1, polkit-0.112-18.el7_6.1.ppc, polkit-devel-0.112-18.el7_6.1 +2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) polkit-0.112-18.el7_6.1, polkit-devel-0.112-18.el7_6.1, polkit-docs-0.112-18.el7_6.1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server (v. 7) polkit-0.112-18.el7_6.1, polkit-devel-0.112-18.el7_6.1, polkit-docs-0.112-18.el7_6.1
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Virtualization 4 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:0230 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:0230 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:0230 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode EUS (v. 7.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:2699 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode EUS (v. 7.5) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:2978 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:0230 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional EUS (v. 7.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:2699 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional EUS (v. 7.5) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:2978 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:0420 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:0420 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:0420 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:0420 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:0420 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:0230 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server AUS (v. 6.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:0832 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 7.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:2699 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 7.5) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:2978 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:0420 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:0230 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:0230 |
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2019-6133
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-7j6c-jrh9-mvqm
References
Patch 3
Advisory 19
- USN-3903-2
- RHSA-2019:0230
- [debian-lts-announce] 20190128 [SECURITY] [DLA 1644-1] policykit-1 security update
- USN-3910-1
- USN-3901-2
- https://bugs.chromium.org/p/project-zero/issues/detail?id=1692
- USN-3910-2
- RHSA-2019:0420
- USN-3908-2
- USN-3901-1
- USN-3903-1
- USN-3908-1
- https://support.f5.com/csp/article/K22715344
- USN-3934-1
- RHSA-2019:0832
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1914
- USN-3934-2
- RHSA-2019:2699
- RHSA-2019:2978
Sources
- CVE-2019-6133 · CVE Program
- CVE-2019-6133 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-7j6c-jrh9-mvqm · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2019-6133 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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