1. Ubuntu Security Notices
  2. USN-1953-1

USN-1953-1: polkit vulnerability

Publication date

18 September 2013

Overview

polkit could be tricked into giving out improper authorization.

Releases

Packages

  • policykit-1 - framework for managing administrative policies and privileges

Details

It was discovered that polkit didn’t allow applications to use the pkcheck
tool in a way which prevented a race condition in the UID lookup. A local
attacker could use this flaw to possibly escalate privileges.

It was discovered that polkit didn’t allow applications to use the pkcheck
tool in a way which prevented a race condition in the UID lookup. A local
attacker could use this flaw to possibly escalate privileges.

Update instructions

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

Learn more about how to get the fixes.

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

Ubuntu Release Package Version
13.04 raring policykit-1 –  0.105-1ubuntu1.1
12.10 quantal policykit-1 –  0.104-2ubuntu1.1
12.04 precise policykit-1 –  0.104-1ubuntu1.1
10.04 lucid policykit-1 –  0.96-2ubuntu0.2

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References

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