CVE-2025-24032

PAM-PKCS#11 vulnerable to authentication bypass with default value for `cert_policy` (`none`)

Published Feb 10, 2025 CVSS 4.0 · 9.2 Critical EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
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;`.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

Sign in to view the affected projects.

Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4058-1 pam-pkcs11 security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-5864-1 pam-pkcs11 security update
EUVD EUVD EUVD-2025-3602 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;`.
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-7363-1 PAM-PKCS#11 vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics epss

{'score': 0.00201}

epss

{'score': 0.00155}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics threat_severity

Important

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 8.0, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L'}

threat_severity

Important

Type Values Removed Values Added
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;`.
Title PAM-PKCS#11 vulnerable to authentication bypass with default value for `cert_policy` (`none`)
Weaknesses CWE-287
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 9.2, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:L/SC:L/SI:L/SA:L'}

Subscriptions

No data.

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
GitHub_M
Published
Updated
May 21, 2025, 3:48 PM
Reserved
Jan 16, 2025, 5:31 PM
Status
Deferred
Published
Feb 10, 2025, 4:15 PM
Modified
Jun 17, 2026, 8:57 AM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Feb 10, 2025, 3:43 PM