CVE-2025-7519

Polkit: xml policy file with a large number of nested elements may lead to out-of-bounds write

Published Jul 14, 2025 CVSS 3.1 · 6.7 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
A flaw was found in polkit. When processing an XML policy with 32 or more nested elements in depth, an out-of-bounds write can be triggered. This issue can lead to a crash or other unexpected behavior, and arbitrary code execution is not discarded. To exploit this flaw, a high-privilege account is needed as it's required to place the malicious policy file properly.

Remediation

Vendor Workaround

There's no known mitigation to this vulnerability other than avoiding the implementation of unknown or untrusted polkit policy files to the system.

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
EUVD EUVD EUVD-2025-21350 A flaw was found in polkit. When processing an XML policy with 32 or more nested elements in depth, an out-of-bounds write can be triggered. This issue can lead to a crash or other unexpected behavior, and arbitrary code execution is not discarded. To exploit this flaw, a high-privilege account is needed as it's required to place the malicious policy file properly.
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8173-1 polkit vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Redhat rhel Els
CPEs cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:10
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:6
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:10
cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:8
cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
cpe:/o:redhat:rhel_els:6
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 Redhat openshift Container Platform
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:redhat:openshift_container_platform:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Redhat openshift Container Platform
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics epss

{'score': 0.00014}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description No description is available for this CVE. A flaw was found in polkit. When processing an XML policy with 32 or more nested elements in depth, an out-of-bounds write can be triggered. This issue can lead to a crash or other unexpected behavior, and arbitrary code execution is not discarded. To exploit this flaw, a high-privilege account is needed as it's required to place the malicious policy file properly.
Title polkit: XML policy file with a large number of nested elements may lead to out-of-bounds write Polkit: xml policy file with a large number of nested elements may lead to out-of-bounds write
First Time appeared Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
Redhat openshift
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:openshift:4
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:10
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:6
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
Vendors & Products Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
Redhat openshift
References
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description No description is available for this CVE.
Title polkit: XML policy file with a large number of nested elements may lead to out-of-bounds write
Weaknesses CWE-787
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.7, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
redhat
Published
Updated
Nov 5, 2026, 4:07 PM
Reserved
Jul 11, 2025, 9:18 PM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Jul 14, 2025, 2:15 PM
Modified
Nov 5, 2026, 5:17 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Jul 11, 2025, 12:00 AM