Description
The rm_rf_children function in util.c in the systemd-logind login manager in systemd before 44, when logging out, allows local users to delete arbitrary files via a symlink attack on unspecified files, related to "particular records related with user session."
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 | systemd | 44-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | systemd | 44-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | systemd | 44-1 | — |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | systemd | 228-17.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10356-1 |
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | systemd-ui | 3-1.8 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10112-1 |
Advisories 2
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10356-1 libsystemd0-228-17.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10112-1 systemd-ui-3-1.8 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- http://cgit.freedesktop.org/systemd/systemd/commit/?id=5ebff5337594d690b322078c512eb222d34aaa82
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=803358
- FEDORA-2012-6456 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20120316 [Notification] CVE-2012-1174 systemd: TOCTOU race condition by removing user session mailing-list
- MDVSA-2012:030 vendor-advisory