Two Local Privilege Escalation Flaws Discovered in Linux
Qualys researchers have discovered two local privilege escalation vulnerabilities that allow hackers to gain root privileges on major Linux distributions.
It's time for another round of vulnerabilities discovered in the wild. This time, it's two local privilege escalation (LPE) vulnerabilities that affect SSH and libblockdev – both of which are found in most major Linux distributions.
The vulnerabilities in question are CVE-2025-6018 (which allows a hacker to impersonate a user via SSH) and CVE-2025-6019 (which is exploitable via the udisks service and allows a user to escalate access to root privileges).
Pumpkin Chang, a security researcher at DEVCORE who focuses on Linux kernel security, discusses these issues in depth in his blog. Chang explains D-Bus and Polkit and how these mechanisms are leveraged to perform certain operations by impersonating actual users.
Additionally, a report from Qualys' senior manager, Saeed Abbasi, discusses both LPE flaws. Abbassi says, “These modern ‘local-to-root’ exploits have collapsed the gap between an ordinary logged-in user and a full system takeover.”
Abbasi continues, "By chaining legitimate services such as udisks loop-mounts and PAM/environment quirks, attackers who own any active GUI or SSH session can vault across polkit’s allow_active trust zone and emerge as root in seconds." Finally, he adds, "Nothing exotic is required: each link is pre-installed on mainstream Linux distros and their server builds."
The key here is "Nothing exotic is required." In other words, these vulnerabilities don't require any non-standard tools to exploit.
As far as mitigation is concerned, Abbassi states, "To mitigate this vulnerability, modify the polkit rule for ‘org.freedesktop.udisks2.modify-device’. Change the allow_active setting from yes to auth_admin."
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Linux Mint 22.3 Now Available with New Tools
Linux Mint 22.3 has been released with a pair of new tools for system admins and some pretty cool new features.
-
New Linux Malware Targets Cloud-Based Linux Installations
VoidLink, a new Linux malware, should be of real concern because of its stealth and customization.
-
Say Goodbye to Middle-Mouse Paste
Both Gnome and Firefox have proposed getting rid of a long-time favorite Linux feature.
-
Manjaro 26.0 Primary Desktop Environments Default to Wayland
If you want to stick with X.Org, you'll be limited to the desktop environments you can choose.
-
Mozilla Plans to AI-ify Firefox
With a new CEO in control, Mozilla is doubling down on a strategy of trust, all the while leaning into AI.
-
Gnome Says No to AI-Generated Extensions
If you're a developer wanting to create a new Gnome extension, you'd best set aside that AI code generator, because the extension team will have none of that.
-
Parrot OS Switches to KDE Plasma Desktop
Yet another distro is making the move to the KDE Plasma desktop.
-
TUXEDO Announces Gemini 17
TUXEDO Computers has released the fourth generation of its Gemini laptop with plenty of updates.
-
Two New Distros Adopt Enlightenment
MX Moksha and AV Linux 25 join ranks with Bodhi Linux and embrace the Enlightenment desktop.
-
Solus Linux 4.8 Removes Python 2
Solus Linux 4.8 has been released with the latest Linux kernel, updated desktops, and a key removal.