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TI-2025-05438 Aliases CVE-2025-6018GHSA-cg9q-xmf9-7r6w

Pam-config: lpe from unprivileged to allow_active in pam

Priority HIGH 69CWE-863Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Security bypass
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-863.

Summary

A Local Privilege Escalation (LPE) vulnerability has been discovered in pam-config within Linux Pluggable Authentication Modules (PAM). This flaw allows an unprivileged local attacker (for example, a user logged in via SSH) to obtain the elevated privileges normally reserved for a physically present, "allow_active" user. The highest risk is that the attacker can then perform all allow_active yes Polkit actions, which are typically restricted to console users, potentially gaining unauthorized control over system configurations, services, or other sensitive operations.

Why it matters now

Exploitation Proof of concept CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.01102 65th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 2 exploit referencesTagged by NVD
Fix Fixed pam: 1.1.8-24.71.1

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
Poc
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Total

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
—pambefore 1.1.8-24.71.11.1.8-24.71.1Patch availableCNA
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 7——Not affectedCNA
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8——Not affectedCNA
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9——Not affectedCNA
  • pam Vendor— Affected before 1.1.8-24.71.1 Fixed in 1.1.8-24.71.1 Patch available CNA
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in — Not affected CNA
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in — Not affected CNA
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in — Not affected CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:suse:pam-config:1.1.8-24.71.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*1.1.8-24.71.1VulnerableSUSE
  • cpe:2.3:a:suse:pam-config:1.1.8-24.71.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.1.8-24.71.1 Vulnerable ·SUSE

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA pam Fixed in 1.1.8-24.71.1

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

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

Not affected: 3 products
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-6018
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-cg9q-xmf9-7r6w

References

Exploit 2

Advisory 2

  • TI-2019-15875 Protection mechanism failure in Jenkins Pipeline: Groovy Plugin KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.9
  • TI-2019-15874 Protection mechanism failure in Jenkins Script Security Plugin KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.9
  • TI-2019-08259 Underflow in PHP-FPM can lead to RCE KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2019-05363 Code injection in Elastic Kibana KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
  • TI-2019-03949 Out-of-bounds write in ESXi and Horizon DaaS KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2018-16080 A code execution vulnerability exists in the Stapler web framework used by Jenkins 2.153… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
See all 7413 →

Sources

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