XScreenSaver 5.45 can be bypassed if the machine has more than ten disconnectable video…
Priority LOW 22CWE-120Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Physical
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-120 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
XScreenSaver 5.45 can be bypassed if the machine has more than ten disconnectable video outputs. A buffer overflow in update_screen_layout() allows an attacker to bypass the standard screen lock authentication mechanism by crashing XScreenSaver. The attacker must physically disconnect many video outputs.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.0048 41st percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 3 exploit referencesTagged by NVD
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
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 · 2
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:xscreensaver_project:xscreensaver:5.45:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.45 | Vulnerable | Xscreensaver Project |
| cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:33:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 33 | Vulnerable | Fedoraproject |
- cpe:2.3:a:xscreensaver_project:xscreensaver:5.45:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.45 Vulnerable ·Xscreensaver Project
- cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:33:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 33 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Vendor assessments
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-34557
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-hrwv-325w-f6ch
References
Exploit 3
Patch 1
Sources
- CVE-2021-34557 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-34557 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-hrwv-325w-f6ch · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2021-34557 · 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