Description
Race condition in PolicyKit (aka polkit) allows local users to bypass intended PolicyKit restrictions and gain privileges by starting a setuid or pkexec process before the authorization check is performed, related to (1) the polkit_unix_process_new API function, (2) the dbus API, or (3) the --process (unix-process) option for authorization to pkcheck.
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 | policykit-1 | 0.105-3+nmu1 | — |
| Debian 13 | policykit-1 | 0.105-3+nmu1 | — |
| Debian 12 | policykit-1 | 0.105-3+nmu1 | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6 | polkit +3 | 0.96-5.el6_4 | RHSA-2013:1270 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | systemd | 228-17.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10356-1 |
Advisories 2
- RHSA-2013:1270 Red Hat Security Advisory: polkit security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10356-1 libsystemd0-228-17.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- openSUSE-SU-2013:1528 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2013:1270 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2013:1527 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20130918 Fwd: [vs-plain] polkit races mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20130918 Re: Fwd: [vs-plain] polkit races mailing-list
- openSUSE-SU-2013:1617 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2013:1620 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2013:1460 vendor-advisory
- http://bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=1002375
- USN-1953-1 vendor-advisory