7.8

CVE-2025-6018: suse pam-config Incorrect Authorization

CVSS: 7.8v3.1HighModified
AliasesSUSE-RU-2025:20479-1SUSE-SU-2025:02001-1SUSE-SU-2025:02002-1
Published 23-07-2025Last modified 30-06-2026
Open JSON

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2025-6018 is a high (CVSS 7.8) Incorrect Authorization vulnerability in suse pam-config. EPSS estimates a 1.09% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 65% of scored vulnerabilities. 3 public exploits are recorded.

Overall risk
41/100
0100
Medium · default modelHow is this calculated?
CVSS score
7.8/10
010
High · v3.1 (CVE.org)
EPSS score
1.09%
0%100%
Low · +0.07 pp in 30 days
KEVNot listedIn no KEV catalog
RansomwareNone recordedNo known use recorded
Public exploits3reference, exploit-database

Advisory lineage

Upstream 0 · Downstream 1 · Related 1
SUSE-SU-2025:02013-1

Timeline

  1. 23-07-2025
    PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
  2. 30-06-2026
    Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

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.

CVSS metrics

2 scores · 2 sources · 1 version

EPSS trend

Probability

1.09%

Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days

Percentile

65%

Versus all other CVEs

30-day change

+0.07 pp

From 1.02% on 21-09-2026

21-09-202621-10-2026
EPSS score
1.09%

Known exploited

Compare KEV catalogs

Not in any of the 3 tracked catalogs.

Public exploits

3 found
  • referenceUnverified

    Exploit Reference (bugzilla.suse.com)

    Maturity: unknown

  • referenceUnverified

    Exploit Reference (cdn2.qualys.com)

    Maturity: unknown

  • exploit-databaselocallinuxUnverified

    Linux PAM Environment - Variable Injection Local Privilege Escalation

    Maturity: poc

Weaknesses

CWE · root cause

Affected systems

Suse69 products
  • gdm&distro=SUSE Enterprise Storage 7.1< 3.34.1-150200.8.26.1
  • gdm&distro=SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3-LTSS< 3.34.1-150200.8.26.1
  • gdm&distro=SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-ESPOS< 41.3-150400.4.14.1
  • gdm&distro=SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS< 41.3-150400.4.14.1
  • gdm&distro=SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-ESPOS< 41.3-150400.4.14.1
Opensuse5 products
  • gdm&distro=openSUSE Leap 15.6< 45.0.1-150600.6.8.1
  • gdm&distro=openSUSE Tumbleweed< 48.0-10.1
  • pam_pkcs11&distro=openSUSE Leap 15.6< 0.6.10-150600.16.8.1
  • pam_pkcs11&distro=openSUSE Tumbleweed< 0.6.13-2.1
  • pam-config&distro=openSUSE Leap 15.6< 1.1-150600.16.8.1

2 vendors · 74 products

References

24 links
Show all 24 references