CVE-2025-6018: pam-config Auth Bypass — Exploit

Description

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.

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CVSS v3.1 Score

7.8

HIGH

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-863 Incorrect Authorization

Affected Products

Vendor	Product	Versions
suse	pam-config	All

References

Exploits

https://bugzilla.suse.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1243226 https://cdn2.qualys.com/2025/06/17/suse15-pam-udisks-lpe.txt https://cdn2.qualys.com/2025/06/17/suse15-pam-udisks-lpe.txt

Other References

https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2025-6018 https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2372693 http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/08/28/4

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-6018? +

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. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 (HIGH).

How severe is CVE-2025-6018? +

CVE-2025-6018 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 7.8 out of 10, rated HIGH. This is a high-severity vulnerability that should be prioritized for patching.

What products are affected by CVE-2025-6018? +

CVE-2025-6018 affects products from suse, specifically: pam-config. Check the affected products table above for specific version ranges.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2025-6018? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

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