Description
The newEntry function in ptserver/ptprocs.c in OpenAFS before 1.6.17 allows remote authenticated users from foreign Kerberos realms to bypass intended access restrictions and create arbitrary groups as administrators by leveraging mishandling of the creator ID.
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 13 | openafs | 1.6.17-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | openafs | 1.6.17-1 | — |
| Debian 8 | openafs | 1.6.9-2+deb8u5 | DSA-3569-1 |
| Debian 7 | openafs | 1.6.1-3+deb7u6 | DLA-493-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | openafs | No fix yet | — |
Advisories 2
- DLA-493-1 openafs - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-3569-1 openafs - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- http://www.openafs.org/pages/security/OPENAFS-SA-2016-001.txt
- DSA-3569 vendor-advisory
- https://www.openafs.org/dl/openafs/1.6.17/RELNOTES-1.6.17
- http://git.openafs.org/?p=openafs.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=396240cf070a806b91fea81131d034e1399af1e0
- [OpenAFS-announce] 20160316 OpenAFS security release 1.6.17 available mailing-list