---
title: "CVE-2018-16838\n    | Ubuntu"
description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the
  desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.
url: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2018-16838?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2018-16838

Publication date 25 March 2019

Last updated 18 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Low**

[Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority )

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**5.4 · Medium**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2018-16838?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

A flaw was found in sssd Group Policy Objects implementation. When the GPO
is not readable by SSSD due to a too strict permission settings on the
server side, SSSD will allow all authenticated users to login instead of
denying access.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2018-16838?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| sssd | 26.04 LTS resolute | Not affected |
| 25.10 questing | Not affected |
| 25.04 plucky | Not affected |
| 24.10 oracular | Not affected |
| 24.04 LTS noble | Not affected |
| 23.10 mantic | Not affected |
| 23.04 lunar | Not affected |
| 22.10 kinetic | Not affected |
| 22.04 LTS jammy | Not affected |
| 21.10 impish | Not affected |
| 21.04 hirsute | Not affected |
| 20.10 groovy | Not affected |
| 20.04 LTS focal | Not affected |
| 19.10 eoan | Not affected |
| 19.04 disco | Ignored end of life |
| 18.10 cosmic | Ignored end of life |
| 18.04 LTS bionic | Fixed 1.16.1-1ubuntu1.8 |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Vulnerable |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)
* [Patch details](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2018-16838?format=md#patch-details)

## Notes

---

### [mdeslaur](https://launchpad.net/~mdeslaur)

introduced in https://github.com/SSSD/sssd/commit/60cab26b12

### Patch details

For informational purposes only. We recommend not to cherry-pick updates. [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)

| Package | Patch details |
| --- | --- |
| sssd | * Upstream:   <https://pagure.io/SSSD/sssd/c/ad058011b6b75b15c674be46a3ae9b3cc5228175> |

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

5.4 · Medium

* Base metrics

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Attack vector | Network |
  | Attack complexity | Low |
  | Privileges required | Low |
  | User interaction | None |
  | Scope | Unchanged |
  | Confidentiality impact | Low |
  | Integrity impact | Low |
  | Availability impact | None |
* Scores

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 5.4 · Medium |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

**Vector:** CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2018-16838)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-16838)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2018-16838)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2018-16838)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-5067-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-5067-1)
+ SSSD vulnerabilities
+ 8 September 2021

### Other references

* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-16838>