Description
In PolicyKit (aka polkit) 0.115, the "start time" protection mechanism can be bypassed because fork() is not atomic, and therefore authorization decisions are improperly cached. This is related to lack of uid checking in polkitbackend/polkitbackendinteractiveauthority.c.
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 | linux | 4.19.16-1 | — |
| Debian 14 | policykit-1 | 0.105-25 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 4.19.16-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | policykit-1 | 0.105-25 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 4.19.16-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | policykit-1 | 0.105-25 | — |
| Debian 8 | linux | 3.16.68-1 | DLA-1799-1 |
| Debian 8 | policykit-1 | 0.105-15~deb8u4 | DLA-1644-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gcp-6.11 +4 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv +2 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gke +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux | 4.15.0-46.49 | USN-3901-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-aws | 4.15.0-1033.35 | USN-3901-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-azure | 4.18.0-1013.13~18.04.1 | USN-3903-2 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 4.15.0-1028.29 | USN-3901-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-hwe | 4.18.0-16.17~18.04.1 | USN-3903-2 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-kvm | 4.15.0-1030.30 | USN-3901-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-oem | 4.15.0-1034.39 | USN-3901-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 4.15.0-1009.11 | USN-3901-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-raspi2 | 4.15.0-1032.34 | USN-3901-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-snapdragon | 4.15.0-1053.57 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | policykit-1 | 0.105-20ubuntu0.18.04.5 | USN-3934-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux | 4.4.0-143.169 | USN-3910-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-aws | 4.4.0-1077.87 | USN-3910-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-aws-hwe | 4.15.0-1033.35~16.04.1 | USN-3901-2 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-azure | 4.15.0-1040.44 | USN-3901-2 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 4.15.0-1028.29~16.04.1 | USN-3901-2 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe | 4.15.0-46.49~16.04.1 | USN-3901-2 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-kvm | 4.4.0-1041.47 | USN-3910-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 4.15.0-1009.11~16.04.1 | USN-3901-2 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-raspi2 | 4.4.0-1104.112 | USN-3910-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-snapdragon | 4.4.0-1108.113 | USN-3910-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | policykit-1 | 0.105-14.1ubuntu0.5 | USN-3934-1 |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux | 3.13.0-166.216 | USN-3908-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux-aws | 4.4.0-1039.42 | USN-3910-2 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux-azure | 4.15.0-1040.44~14.04.1 | USN-3901-2 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | linux-lts-xenial | 4.4.0-143.169~14.04.2 | USN-3910-2 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | policykit-1 | 0.105-4ubuntu3.14.04.6 | USN-3934-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 16.04 LTS | linux-fips | 4.4.0-1008.10 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde-5.15 | No fix yet | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | polkit +2 | 0.112-18.el7_6.1 | RHSA-2019:0230 |
| RHEL 6 | polkit +3 | 0.96-11.el6_10.1 | RHSA-2019:0420 |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7.5 EUS | polkit +2 | 0.112-14.el7_5.1 | RHSA-2019:2978 |
| RHEL 7.4 EUS | polkit +2 | 0.112-12.el7_4.1 | RHSA-2019:2699 |
| RHEL 6.6 AUS | polkit +3 | 0.96-7.el6_6.1 | RHSA-2019:0832 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP1 | polkit | 0.114-3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:2018-1 |
| SLES 15 | polkit | 0.114-3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:2018-1 |
| SLES 12 SP4 | polkit | 0.113-5.18.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:2035-1 |
| SLES 12 SP3 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.4.180-94.135.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3503-1 |
| SLES 12 SP3 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP3_Update_36 | 1-4.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3503-1 |
| SLES 12 SP3 | polkit | 0.113-5.18.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:2035-1 |
| SLES 12 SP2 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.4.121-92.149.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:0437-1 |
| SLES 12 SP2 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP2_Update_39 | 1-3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:0437-1 |
| SLES 12 SP2 | polkit | 0.113-5.18.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:2035-1 |
Show 11 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP1 | polkit | 0.113-5.18.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:2035-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP4 | polkit | 0.113-5.18.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:2035-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP3 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.4.180-94.135.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3503-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP3 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP3_Update_36 | 1-4.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3503-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP3 | polkit | 0.113-5.18.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:2035-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.4.121-92.149.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:0437-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP2_Update_39 | 1-3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:0437-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | polkit | 0.113-5.18.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:2035-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | polkit | 0.113-5.18.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:2035-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud Crowbar 8 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.4.180-94.135.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3503-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud Crowbar 8 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP3_Update_36 | 1-4.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3503-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud Crowbar 8 | polkit | 0.113-5.18.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:2035-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 8 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.4.180-94.135.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3503-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 8 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP3_Update_36 | 1-4.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3503-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 8 | polkit | 0.113-5.18.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:2035-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 7 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.4.121-92.149.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:0437-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 7 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP2_Update_39 | 1-3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:0437-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 7 | polkit | 0.113-5.18.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:2035-1 |
| SUSE HPE Helion OpenStack 8 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.4.180-94.135.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3503-1 |
| SUSE HPE Helion OpenStack 8 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP3_Update_36 | 1-4.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3503-1 |
| SUSE HPE Helion OpenStack 8 | polkit | 0.113-5.18.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:2035-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 5 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.4.180-94.135.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3503-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 5 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP3_Update_36 | 1-4.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:3503-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 5 | polkit | 0.113-5.18.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:2035-2, SUSE-SU-2019:2035-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 4 | polkit | 0.113-5.18.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:2035-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | polkit | 0.118-7.2 | openSUSE-SU-2024:11180-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.1 | polkit | 0.114-lp151.5.3.1 | openSUSE-SU-2019:1914-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.0 | polkit | 0.114-lp151.5.3.1 | openSUSE-SU-2019:1914-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.9 | polkit | 0.105-r11 | — |
| Alpine v3.8 | polkit | 0.105-r11 | — |
| Alpine v3.7 | polkit | 0.105-r10 | — |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2 | polkit +2 | 0.112-18.amzn2.1 | ALAS2-2019-1171 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | kernel-uek +5 | 4.1.12-124.28.6.el7uek | ELSA-2019-4710, ELSA-2019-4708 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | perf +5 | 4.14.35-1902.3.1.el7uek | ELSA-2019-4708 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | polkit +2 | 0.112-18.0.1.el7_6.1 | ELSA-2019-0230 |
Advisories 25
- RHSA-2019:0420 Red Hat Security Advisory: polkit security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Nov 13, 2026
- RHSA-2019:2978 Red Hat Security Advisory: polkit security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 27, 2026
- RHSA-2019:2699 Red Hat Security Advisory: polkit security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 27, 2026
- RHSA-2019:0832 Red Hat Security Advisory: polkit security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 27, 2026
- RHSA-2019:0230 Red Hat Security Advisory: polkit security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 27, 2026
- USN-3910-2 linux-lts-xenial, linux-aws vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 3, 2026
- USN-3910-1 linux, linux-aws, linux-kvm, linux-raspi2, linux-snapdragon vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 3, 2026
- USN-3934-1 policykit-1 vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- USN-3901-1 linux, linux-aws, linux-gcp, linux-kvm, linux-oem, linux-oracle, linux-raspi2 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- USN-3908-1 linux vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DLA-1799-1 linux - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-1644-1 policykit-1 - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- USN-3901-2 linux-hwe, linux-aws-hwe, linux-azure, linux-gcp, linux-oracle vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- USN-3903-2 linux-hwe, linux-azure vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2019:2018-1 Security update for polkit SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2019:2035-1 Security update for polkit SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2021:0437-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:11180-1 libpolkit0-0.118-7.2 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2019:2035-2 Security update for polkit SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1914-1 Security update for polkit SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2020:3503-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 2, 2025
- ELSA-2019-4710 Important: Unbreakable Enterprise kernel security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Jul 10, 2019
- ELSA-2019-4708 Important: Unbreakable Enterprise kernel security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Jul 7, 2019
- ALAS2-2019-1171 Important: polkit security update (Amazon Linux 2) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Mar 8, 2019
- ELSA-2019-0230 Important: polkit security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Feb 1, 2019
References
- https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/polkit/polkit/commit/c898fdf4b1aafaa04f8ada9d73d77c8bb76e2f81
- USN-3903-2 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2019:0230 vendor-advisory
- https://git.kernel.org/linus/7b55851367136b1efd84d98fea81ba57a98304cf
- [debian-lts-announce] 20190128 [SECURITY] [DLA 1644-1] policykit-1 security update mailing-list
- USN-3910-1 vendor-advisory
- USN-3901-2 vendor-advisory
- https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/polkit/polkit/merge_requests/19
- https://bugs.chromium.org/p/project-zero/issues/detail?id=1692
- USN-3910-2 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2019:0420 vendor-advisory
- USN-3908-2 vendor-advisory
- USN-3901-1 vendor-advisory
- USN-3903-1 vendor-advisory
- 106537 vdb-entry
- USN-3908-1 vendor-advisory
- https://support.f5.com/csp/article/K22715344
- USN-3934-1 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2019:0832 vendor-advisory
- [debian-lts-announce] 20190528 [SECURITY] [DLA 1799-1] linux security update mailing-list
- [debian-lts-announce] 20190528 [SECURITY] [DLA 1799-2] linux security update mailing-list
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1914 vendor-advisory
- USN-3934-2 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2019:2699 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2019:2978 vendor-advisory