USN-3938-1: systemd vulnerability

8 April 2019

The systemd PAM module could be used to gain additional PolicyKit privileges.

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Releases

Packages

  • systemd - system and service manager

Details

Jann Horn discovered that pam_systemd created logind sessions using some
parameters from the environment. A local attacker could exploit this in
order to spoof the active session and gain additional PolicyKit
privileges.

Reduce your security exposure

Ubuntu Pro provides ten-year security coverage to 25,000+ packages in Main and Universe repositories, and it is free for up to five machines.

Learn more about Ubuntu Pro

Update instructions

The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following package versions:

Ubuntu 18.10
Ubuntu 18.04
Ubuntu 16.04
Ubuntu 14.04

In general, a standard system update will make all the necessary changes.

References

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Further reading