Linux-PAM pam_namespace symlink

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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Current Exploit Price (≈)
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CTI Interest Score
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7.8$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux-PAM and classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the component pam_namespace. Such manipulation leads to symlink. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2025-8941. The attack needs to be performed locally. There is not any exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux-PAM (the affected version is unknown) and classified as critical. Affected by this issue is an unknown code of the component pam_namespace. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a symlink vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-61. The product, when opening a file or directory, does not sufficiently account for when the file is a symbolic link that resolves to a target outside of the intended control sphere. This could allow an attacker to cause the product to operate on unauthorized files. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

A flaw was found in linux-pam. The pam_namespace module may improperly handle user-controlled paths, allowing local users to exploit symlink attacks and race conditions to elevate their privileges to root. This CVE provides a "complete" fix for CVE-2025-6020.

The advisory is available at access.redhat.com. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2025-8941 since 08/13/2025. The exploitation is known to be easy. Local access is required to approach this attack. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not available. The structure of the vulnerability defines a possible price range of USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 10/12/2025).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 260020 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-8941), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (260020), EUVD (EUVD-2025-24657) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1828). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Affected

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • RESF Rocky Linux
  • IBM MQ
  • Open Source PAM
  • IBM App Connect Enterprise

Productinfo

Name

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.8
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.8

VulDB Base Score: 7.8
VulDB Temp Score: 7.8
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CNA Base Score: 7.8
CNA Vector (redhat): 🔒

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Symlink
CWE: CWE-61 / CWE-59
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Nessus ID: 260020
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-8941

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: no mitigation known
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Timelineinfo

08/13/2025 Advisory disclosed
08/13/2025 +0 days CVE reserved
08/13/2025 +0 days VulDB entry created
10/12/2025 +60 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: access.redhat.com
Status: Not defined

CVE: CVE-2025-8941 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-8941
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-319946
EUVD: 🔒
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2025-1828 - PAM (linux-pam package): Schwachstelle ermöglicht Erlangen von Administratorrechten

Entryinfo

Created: 08/13/2025 17:54
Updated: 10/12/2025 22:00
Changes: 08/13/2025 17:54 (60), 08/15/2025 06:52 (7), 09/01/2025 04:23 (2), 09/01/2025 12:27 (1), 09/01/2025 21:16 (1), 10/12/2025 22:00 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

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