Description
An issue was discovered in shadow 4.5. newgidmap (in shadow-utils) is setuid and allows an unprivileged user to be placed in a user namespace where setgroups(2) is permitted. This allows an attacker to remove themselves from a supplementary group, which may allow access to certain filesystem paths if the administrator has used "group blacklisting" (e.g., chmod g-rwx) to restrict access to paths. This flaw effectively reverts a security feature in the kernel (in particular, the /proc/self/setgroups knob) to prevent this sort of privilege escalation.
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 | shadow | 1:4.7-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | shadow | 1:4.7-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | shadow | 1:4.7-1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | shadow | 1:4.5-1ubuntu2.2 | USN-5254-1 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | shadow | 1:4.2-3.1ubuntu5.5+esm1 | USN-5254-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | shadow | 1:4.1.5.1-1ubuntu9.5+esm1 | USN-5254-1 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP3 | shadow | 4.2.1-27.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:0662-1 |
| SLES 12 SP2 | shadow | 4.2.1-27.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:0662-1 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP3 | shadow | 4.2.1-27.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:0662-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | shadow | 4.2.1-27.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:0662-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | shadow | 4.9-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:11378-1 |
Advisories 5
- USN-5254-1 shadow vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 29, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:11378-1 libsubid-devel-4.9-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:0662-1 Security update for shadow SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- NCSC-2025-0382 Kwetsbaarheden verholpen in Siemens producten NCSC-NL (Netherlands) · Dec 9, 2025
- SSA-202008 SSA-202008: Multiple Vulnerabilities in Ruggedcom Rox Before V2.17.0 Siemens ProductCERT · Dec 9, 2025