Privilege Escalation Vulnerability in linux-pam Affects Red Hat

CVE-2025-8941

What is CVE-2025-8941?

CVE-2025-8941 is a privilege escalation vulnerability found in the linux-pam library, which is essential for managing user authentication in Linux-based systems. It specifically affects the pam_namespace module, which may mishandle user-controlled paths. This flaw allows local users to potentially exploit symlink attacks and race conditions, enabling them to elevate their privileges to that of the root user. Such an elevation of privileges can enable unauthorized access to critical system functions and sensitive data, posing a significant threat to the organization’s security posture. Given its severe implications, organizations operating on impacted systems must address this vulnerability to safeguard their resources efficiently.

Potential impact of CVE-2025-8941

1. Unauthorized Privileges: The vulnerability enables local users to gain root access, which can lead to complete control over the affected system. This unauthorized access could allow attackers to install malicious software, manipulate system configurations, and access sensitive data.

2. Escalation of Attacks: With elevated privileges, attackers can execute further attacks within the network or against connected systems, potentially compromising multiple systems and increasing the impact of a single compromised account.

3. Lack of Accountability and Audit: Once an attacker gains root access, standard auditing mechanisms may fail to detect unauthorized actions, leading to a loss of accountability and an increased risk of data breaches and security incidents going unnoticed for extended periods.

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