CVE-2021-4034
HIGH CISA KEV
Published Jan 28, 20224y ago · Modified Jun 17, 20262w ago
7.8 CVSS 3.1
Published Jan 28, 2022 4y ago
Last Modified Jun 17, 2026 2w ago
KEV Listed Jun 27, 2022 4y ago
KEV Due Jul 18, 2022 1448d overdue
Description
A local privilege escalation vulnerability was found on polkit's pkexec utility. The pkexec application is a setuid tool designed to allow unprivileged users to run commands as privileged users according predefined policies. The current version of pkexec doesn't handle the calling parameters count correctly and ends trying to execute environment variables as commands. An attacker can leverage this by crafting environment variables in such a way it'll induce pkexec to execute arbitrary code. When successfully executed the attack can cause a local privilege escalation given unprivileged users administrative rights on the target machine.
CVSS Details
Base Score
Exploitability
Impact
Vector string
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Attack Vector Local
Attack Complexity Low
Privileges Required Low
User Interaction None
Scope Unchanged
Confidentiality High
Integrity High
Availability High
Threat Intelligence
CISA Known Exploited Overdue 1448d
- Added
- Jun 27, 2022
- Due
- Jul 18, 2022
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Exploit & Patch Status
Actively Exploited (KEV)
Patch Available
Weaknesses 2
CWE-125 Out-of-bounds Read Memory Safety
CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write Memory Safety
Affected Products 55
| Vendor | Product | Version | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| polkit_project | polkit | * | <121 |
| redhat | enterprise_linux_server_update_services_for_sap_solutions | 7.6 | any |
| redhat | enterprise_linux_server_update_services_for_sap_solutions | 7.7 | any |
| redhat | enterprise_linux | 8.0 | any |
| redhat | enterprise_linux_desktop | 7.0 | any |
| redhat | enterprise_linux_eus | 8.2 | any |
| redhat | enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems | 7.0 | any |
| redhat | enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems | 8.0 | any |
| redhat | enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems_eus | 8.2 | any |
| redhat | enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems_eus | 8.4 | any |
| redhat | enterprise_linux_for_power_big_endian | 7.0 | any |
| redhat | enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian | 7.0 | any |
| redhat | enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian | 8.0 | any |
| redhat | enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian_eus | 8.1 | any |
| redhat | enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian_eus | 8.2 | any |
| redhat | enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian_eus | 8.4 | any |
| redhat | enterprise_linux_for_scientific_computing | 7.0 | any |
| redhat | enterprise_linux_server | 6.0 | any |
| redhat | enterprise_linux_server | 7.0 | any |
| redhat | enterprise_linux_server_aus | 7.3 | any |
| redhat | enterprise_linux_server_aus | 7.4 | any |
| redhat | enterprise_linux_server_aus | 7.6 | any |
| redhat | enterprise_linux_server_aus | 7.7 | any |
| redhat | enterprise_linux_server_aus | 8.2 | any |
| redhat | enterprise_linux_server_aus | 8.4 | any |
| redhat | enterprise_linux_server_eus | 8.4 | any |
| redhat | enterprise_linux_server_tus | 7.6 | any |
| redhat | enterprise_linux_server_tus | 7.7 | any |
| redhat | enterprise_linux_server_tus | 8.2 | any |
| redhat | enterprise_linux_server_tus | 8.4 | any |
| redhat | enterprise_linux_server_update_services_for_sap_solutions | 8.1 | any |
| redhat | enterprise_linux_server_update_services_for_sap_solutions | 8.2 | any |
| redhat | enterprise_linux_server_update_services_for_sap_solutions | 8.4 | any |
| redhat | enterprise_linux_workstation | 7.0 | any |
| canonical | ubuntu_linux | 14.04 | any |
| canonical | ubuntu_linux | 16.04 | any |
| canonical | ubuntu_linux | 18.04 | any |
| canonical | ubuntu_linux | 20.04 | any |
| canonical | ubuntu_linux | 21.10 | any |
| suse | enterprise_storage | 7.0 | any |
| suse | linux_enterprise_high_performance_computing | 15.0 | any |
| suse | manager_proxy | 4.1 | any |
| suse | manager_server | 4.1 | any |
| suse | linux_enterprise_desktop | 15 | any |
| suse | linux_enterprise_server | 15 | any |
| suse | linux_enterprise_server | 15 | any |
| suse | linux_enterprise_workstation_extension | 12 | any |
| oracle | http_server | 12.2.1.3.0 | any |
| oracle | http_server | 12.2.1.4.0 | any |
| oracle | zfs_storage_appliance_kit | 8.8 | any |
| siemens | sinumerik_edge | * | <3.3.0 |
| siemens | scalance_lpe9403_firmware | * | <2.0 |
| siemens | scalance_lpe9403 | * | any |
| starwindsoftware | command_center | 1.0 | any |
| starwindsoftware | starwind_virtual_san | v8 | any |
References 13
- packetstormsecurity.com http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/166196/Polkit-pkexec-Local-Privilege-Escalation.html
- packetstormsecurity.com http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/166200/Polkit-pkexec-Privilege-Escalation.html
- access.redhat.com https://access.redhat.com/security/vulnerabilities/RHSB-2022-001
- bugzilla.redhat.com https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2025869
- cert-portal.siemens.com https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-330556.pdf
- gitlab.freedesktop.org https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/polkit/polkit/-/commit/a2bf5c9c83b6ae46cbd5c779d3055bff81ded683
- cisa.gov https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-4034
- oracle.com https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html
- qualys.com https://www.qualys.com/2022/01/25/cve-2021-4034/pwnkit.txt
- secpod.com https://www.secpod.com/blog/local-privilege-escalation-vulnerability-in-major-linux-distributions-cve-2021-4034/
- starwindsoftware.com https://www.starwindsoftware.com/security/sw-20220818-0001/
- suse.com https://www.suse.com/support/kb/doc/?id=000020564
- vicarius.io https://www.vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/pwnkit-pkexec-lpe-cve-2021-4034
Remediation
- bugzilla.redhat.com https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2025869
- gitlab.freedesktop.org https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/polkit/polkit/-/commit/a2bf5c9c83b6ae46cbd5c779d3055bff81ded683
- oracle.com https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html