CVE-2025-6018

Pam-config: lpe from unprivileged to allow_active in pam

Published Jul 23, 2025 CVSS 3.1 · 7.8 High EPSS 1.1% KEV · Not listed
Description
A Local Privilege Escalation (LPE) vulnerability has been discovered in pam-config within Linux Pluggable Authentication Modules (PAM). This flaw allows an unprivileged local attacker (for example, a user logged in via SSH) to obtain the elevated privileges normally reserved for a physically present, "allow_active" user. The highest risk is that the attacker can then perform all allow_active yes Polkit actions, which are typically restricted to console users, potentially gaining unauthorized control over system configurations, services, or other sensitive operations.

Remediation

Vendor Workaround

Currently, there is no mitigation available for this vulnerability.

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
EUVD EUVD EUVD-2025-22455 A Local Privilege Escalation (LPE) vulnerability has been discovered in pam-config within Linux Pluggable Authentication Modules (PAM). This flaw allows an unprivileged local attacker (for example, a user logged in via SSH) to obtain the elevated privileges normally reserved for a physically present, "allow_active" user. The highest risk is that the attacker can then perform all allow_active yes Polkit actions, which are typically restricted to console users, potentially gaining unauthorized control over system configurations, services, or other sensitive operations.
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Redhat rhel Els
CPEs cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:8
cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
cpe:/o:redhat:rhel_els:7
Vendors & Products Redhat rhel Els
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:/o:redhat:rhivos:1
Vendors & Products Redhat rhivos
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Redhat rhivos
CPEs cpe:/o:redhat:rhivos:1
Vendors & Products Redhat rhivos
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Suse
Suse pam-config
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:suse:pam-config:1.1.8-24.71.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Suse
Suse pam-config
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'poc', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Title pam-config: LPE from unprivileged to allow_active in PAM Pam-config: lpe from unprivileged to allow_active in pam
First Time appeared Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
CPEs cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
Vendors & Products Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
References
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A Local Privilege Escalation (LPE) vulnerability has been discovered in pam-config within Linux Pluggable Authentication Modules (PAM). This flaw allows an unprivileged local attacker (for example, a user logged in via SSH) to obtain the elevated privileges normally reserved for a physically present, "allow_active" user. The highest risk is that the attacker can then perform all allow_active yes Polkit actions, which are typically restricted to console users, potentially gaining unauthorized control over system configurations, services, or other sensitive operations.
Title pam-config: LPE from unprivileged to allow_active in PAM
Weaknesses CWE-863
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

threat_severity

Important

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
redhat
Published
Updated
Nov 4, 2026, 9:56 PM
Reserved
Jun 11, 2025, 10:14 PM
Status
Modified
Published
Jul 23, 2025, 3:15 PM
Modified
Nov 4, 2026, 10:17 PM
Severity
Important
Public date
Jun 17, 2025, 12:00 AM