Description
KDE Display Manager (KDM) in KDE 3.2.0 up to 3.5.3 allows local users to read arbitrary files via a symlink attack related to the session type for login.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 3.1 | kdebase | 4:3.3.2-1sarge3 | DSA-1156 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 4 | kdebase +1 | 6:3.3.1-5.12 | RHSA-2006:0548 |
Advisories 2
- RHSA-2006:0548 Red Hat Security Advisory: kdebase security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-1156 kdebase Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 21662 third-party-advisory
- 20890 third-party-advisory
- 20674 third-party-advisory
- 26511 vdb-entry
- 20702 third-party-advisory
- RHSA-2006:0548 vendor-advisory
- 1016297 vdb-entry
- MDKSA-2006:106 vendor-advisory
- USN-301-1 vendor-advisory
- 20602 third-party-advisory
- kde-kdm-symlink(27181) vdb-entry
- 20869 third-party-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:9844 vdb-entry signature
- ADV-2006-2355 vdb-entry
- 20660 third-party-advisory
- DSA-1156 vendor-advisory
- 20060614 [KDE Security Advisory] KDM symlink attack vulnerability mailing-list
- SUSE-SA:2006:039 vendor-advisory
- http://www.kde.org/info/security/advisory-20060614-1.txt
- GLSA-200606-23 vendor-advisory
- SSA:2006-178-01 vendor-advisory
- 20785 third-party-advisory
- MDKSA-2006:105 vendor-advisory
- 20060615 rPSA-2006-0106-1 kdebase mailing-list
- 18431 vdb-entry