Description
KDE KAuth before 5.55 allows the passing of parameters with arbitrary types to helpers running as root over DBus via DBusHelperProxy.cpp. Certain types can cause crashes, and trigger the decoding of arbitrary images with dynamically loaded plugins. In other words, KAuth unintentionally causes this plugin code to run as root, which increases the severity of any possible exploitation of a plugin vulnerability.
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 | 5.54.0-2 | — |
| Debian 13 | kauth | 5.54.0-2 | — |
| Debian 12 | kauth | 5.54.0-2 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | kauth | 5.44.0-0ubuntu1+esm1 | USN-6035-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | kauth | 5.18.0-0ubuntu2+esm1 | USN-6035-1 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSE Package Hub 15 | extra-cmake-modules | 5.32.0-7.2 | openSUSE-SU-2019:0242-1 |
| SUSE Package Hub 15 | kauth | 5.32.0-bp150.3.10.1 | openSUSE-SU-2019:1277-1, openSUSE-SU-2019:1051-1, openSUSE-SU-2019:0247-1 |
| SUSE Package Hub 15 | kcoreaddons | 5.32.0-bp150.3.3.1 | openSUSE-SU-2019:1051-1, openSUSE-SU-2019:0242-1 |
| SUSE Package Hub 15 | polkit-qt5-1 | 0.112.0-bp150.3.3.1 | openSUSE-SU-2019:1277-1, openSUSE-SU-2019:1051-1, openSUSE-SU-2019:0242-1 |
| SUSE Package Hub 12 SP3 | extra-cmake-modules | 5.32.0-7.2 | openSUSE-SU-2019:0242-1 |
| SUSE Package Hub 12 SP3 | kauth | 5.45.0-bp150.5.2 | openSUSE-SU-2019:0242-1 |
| SUSE Package Hub 12 SP3 | kcoreaddons | 5.45.0-bp150.3.6.2 | openSUSE-SU-2019:0242-1 |
| SUSE Package Hub 12 SP3 | polkit-qt5-1 | 0.112.0-5.2 | openSUSE-SU-2019:0242-1 |
| SUSE Package Hub 12 SP2 | extra-cmake-modules | 5.32.0-7.2 | openSUSE-SU-2019:0242-1 |
| SUSE Package Hub 12 SP2 | kauth | 5.45.0-bp150.5.2 | openSUSE-SU-2019:0242-1 |
| SUSE Package Hub 12 SP2 | kcoreaddons | 5.45.0-bp150.3.6.2 | openSUSE-SU-2019:0242-1 |
| SUSE Package Hub 12 SP2 | polkit-qt5-1 | 0.112.0-5.2 | openSUSE-SU-2019:0242-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSE Package Hub 12 SP1 | extra-cmake-modules | 5.32.0-7.2 | openSUSE-SU-2019:0242-1 |
| SUSE Package Hub 12 SP1 | kauth | 5.45.0-bp150.5.2 | openSUSE-SU-2019:0242-1 |
| SUSE Package Hub 12 SP1 | kcoreaddons | 5.45.0-bp150.3.6.2 | openSUSE-SU-2019:0242-1 |
| SUSE Package Hub 12 SP1 | polkit-qt5-1 | 0.112.0-5.2 | openSUSE-SU-2019:0242-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Leap 15.0 | extra-cmake-modules | 5.32.0-7.2 | openSUSE-SU-2019:0242-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.0 | kauth | 5.45.0-bp150.5.2 | openSUSE-SU-2019:0242-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.0 | kcoreaddons | 5.45.0-bp150.3.6.2 | openSUSE-SU-2019:0242-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.0 | polkit-qt5-1 | 0.112.0-5.2 | openSUSE-SU-2019:0242-1 |
Advisories 7
- USN-6035-1 kauth vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 25, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1277-1 Security update for kauth SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2019:0242-1 Security update for kauth SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2019:0247-1 Security update for kauth SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2019:1051-1 Security update for kauth SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- WID-SEC-2023-1051 KDE: Schwachstelle ermöglicht Denial of Service BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Apr 20, 2023
- WID-SEC-2023-1050 KDE: Schwachstelle ermöglicht Ausführen von beliebigem Programmcode mit Administratorrechten BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Apr 20, 2023
References
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-02/msg00060.html
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-02/msg00065.html
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/DAWLQKTUQJOAPXOFWJQAQCA4LVM2P45F/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/PXVUJNXB6QKGPT6YJPJSG3U2BIR5XK5Y/
- https://cgit.kde.org/kauth.git/commit/?id=fc70fb0161c1b9144d26389434d34dd135cd3f4a
- https://bugzilla.suse.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1124863