Description
KDE kdelibs before 4.14.32 and KAuth before 5.34 allow local users to gain root privileges by spoofing a callerID and leveraging a privileged helper app.
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 | kauth | 5.28.0-2 | — |
| Debian 13 | kauth | 5.28.0-2 | — |
| Debian 12 | kauth | 5.28.0-2 | — |
| Debian 8 | kde4libs | 4:4.14.2-5+deb8u2 | DSA-3849-1 |
| Debian 7 | kde4libs | 4:4.8.4-4+deb7u3 | DLA-952-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | kauth | 5.18.0-0ubuntu2 | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | kde4libs | 4:4.14.16-0ubuntu3.2 | — |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | kde4libs | 4:4.13.3-0ubuntu0.5 | USN-3286-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | kdelibs +4 | 6:4.14.8-6.el7_3 | RHSA-2017:1264 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP2 | kdelibs4 | 4.12.0-10.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:1335-1 |
| SLES 12 SP1 | kdelibs4 | 4.12.0-10.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:1335-1 |
Show 4 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | kdelibs4 | 4.12.0-10.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:1335-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | kdelibs4 | 4.12.0-10.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:1335-1 |
| SUSE Package Hub 12 SP2 | kauth | 5.26.0-6.1 | openSUSE-SU-2017:1272-1, openSUSE-SU-2017:1254-1 |
| SUSE Package Hub 12 SP2 | kdelibs4 +1 | 4.14.25-8.2 | openSUSE-SU-2017:1272-1, openSUSE-SU-2017:1254-1 |
| SUSE Package Hub 12 SP1 | kauth | 5.26.0-6.1 | openSUSE-SU-2017:1272-1, openSUSE-SU-2017:1254-1 |
| SUSE Package Hub 12 SP1 | kdelibs4 +1 | 4.14.25-8.2 | openSUSE-SU-2017:1272-1, openSUSE-SU-2017:1254-1 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | kdelibs +4 | 6:4.14.8-6.el7_3 | ELSA-2017-1264 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 1
- KDE 4/5 - 'KAuth' Local Privilege Escalation EDB-42053 · local · May 18, 2017
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 8
- RHSA-2017:1264 Red Hat Security Advisory: kdelibs security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- USN-3286-1 kde4libs vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DLA-952-1 kde4libs - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-3849-1 kde4libs - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2017:1272-1 Security update for kauth, kdelibs4 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:1335-1 Security update for kdelibs4 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2017:1254-1 Security update for kauth, kdelibs4 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 2, 2025
- ELSA-2017-1264 Important: kdelibs security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · May 22, 2017
References
- 1038480 vdb-entry
- 42053 exploit
- https://www.kde.org/info/security/advisory-20170510-1.txt
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1449647
- 98412 vdb-entry
- GLSA-201706-29 vendor-advisory
- https://cgit.kde.org/kdelibs.git/commit/?id=264e97625abe2e0334f97de17f6ffb52582888ab
- DSA-3849 vendor-advisory
- https://cgit.kde.org/kauth.git/commit/?id=df875f725293af53399f5146362eb158b4f9216a
- [oss-security] 20170510 generic kde LPE mailing-list
- RHSA-2017:1264 vendor-advisory