Description
PAM-PKCS#11 is a Linux-PAM login module that allows a X.509 certificate based user login. Prior to version 0.6.13, if cert_policy is set to none (the default value), then pam_pkcs11 will only check if the user is capable of logging into the token. An attacker may create a different token with the user's public data (e.g. the user's certificate) and a PIN known to the attacker. If no signature with the private key is required, then the attacker may now login as user with that created token. The default to *not* check the private key's signature has been changed with commit commi6638576892b59a99389043c90a1e7dd4d783b921, so that all versions starting with pam_pkcs11-0.6.0 should be affected. As a workaround, in `pam_pkcs11.conf`, set at least `cert_policy = signature;`.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| OpenSC | pam_pkcs11 | < 0.6.13 | — |
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 | pam-pkcs11 | 0.6.13-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | pam-pkcs11 | 0.6.13-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | pam-pkcs11 | 0.6.12-1+deb12u1 | DSA-5864-1 |
| Debian 11 | pam-pkcs11 | 0.6.11-4+deb11u1 | DLA-4058-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | pam-pkcs11 | 0.6.12-2ubuntu0.24.04.1 | USN-7363-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | pam-pkcs11 | 0.6.11-4ubuntu0.1 | USN-7363-1 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | pam-pkcs11 | 0.6.11-2ubuntu0.1 | USN-7363-1 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | pam-pkcs11 | 0.6.9-2ubuntu0.1~esm1 | USN-7363-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | pam-pkcs11 | 0.6.8-4ubuntu0.1~esm1 | USN-7363-1 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP6 | pam_pkcs11 | 0.6.10-150600.16.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:0689-1 |
| SLES 12 SP5 | pam_pkcs11 | 0.6.8-7.8.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:0688-1 |
Show 6 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLE Micro 6.0 | pam_pkcs11 | 0.6.12-3.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:20199-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.5 | pam_pkcs11 | 0.6.10-150100.3.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:0712-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.4 | pam_pkcs11 | 0.6.10-150100.3.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:0712-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.3 | pam_pkcs11 | 0.6.10-150100.3.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:0712-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.2 | pam_pkcs11 | 0.6.10-150100.3.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:0712-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.1 | pam_pkcs11 | 0.6.10-150100.3.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:0712-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | pam_pkcs11 | 0.6.13-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2025:14738-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.6 | pam_pkcs11 | 0.6.10-150600.16.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:0689-1 |
Advisories 8
- USN-7363-1 pam-pkcs11 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 25, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:20199-1 Security update for pam_pkcs11 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Mar 23, 2026
- DSA-5864-1 pam-pkcs11 - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-4058-1 pam-pkcs11 - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:0689-1 Security update for pam_pkcs11 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2025:14738-1 pam_pkcs11-0.6.13-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:0712-1 Security update for pam_pkcs11 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:0688-1 Security update for pam_pkcs11 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 2, 2025
References
- https://github.com/OpenSC/pam_pkcs11/security/advisories/GHSA-8r8p-7mgp-vf56
- https://github.com/OpenSC/pam_pkcs11/commit/470263258d1ac59c5eade439c4d9caba0097e6e6
- https://github.com/OpenSC/pam_pkcs11/commit/b665b287ff955bbbd9539252ff9f9e2754c3fb48
- https://github.com/OpenSC/pam_pkcs11/commit/d9530167966a77115db6e885d459382a2e52ee9e
- https://github.com/OpenSC/pam_pkcs11/releases/tag/pam_pkcs11-0.6.13