Description
XScreenSaver 4.10, when using a remote directory service for credentials, does not properly handle the results from the getpwuid function in drivers/lock.c when there is no network connectivity, which causes XScreenSaver to crash and unlock the screen and allows local users to bypass authentication.
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 14 | xscreensaver | 5.03-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | xscreensaver | 5.03-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | xscreensaver | 5.03-1 | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 4 | xscreensaver | 1:4.18-5.rhel4.14 | RHSA-2007:0322 |
| RHEL 3 | xscreensaver | 1:4.10-21.el3 | RHSA-2007:0322 |
| RHEL 2 | xscreensaver | 1:3.33-4.rhel21.5 | RHSA-2007:0322 |
Advisories 1
- RHSA-2007:0322 Red Hat Security Advisory: xscreensaver security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
References
- 25610 third-party-advisory
- 25119 third-party-advisory
- 25105 third-party-advisory
- 25065 third-party-advisory
- 25116 third-party-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:11459 vdb-entry signature
- 25225 third-party-advisory
- MDKSA-2007:097 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SR:2007:009 vendor-advisory
- https://issues.rpath.com/browse/RPL-1293
- 35531 vdb-entry
- 23783 vdb-entry
- xscreensaver-getpwuid-authentication-bypass(34054) vdb-entry
- RHSA-2007:0322 vendor-advisory
- 25118 third-party-advisory
- 1017996 vdb-entry
- USN-474-1 vendor-advisory
- GLSA-200705-14 vendor-advisory