CVE-2025-6020
Linux-pam: linux-pam directory traversal
No known exploitation. EPSS puts it in the 37th percentile. A vendor fix is available.
What to do
The vendor has published a fix. Version details are below where the sources state them.
What it is
From the CVE record
A flaw was found in linux-pam. The module pam_namespace may use access user-controlled paths without proper protection, allowing local users to elevate their privileges to root via multiple symlink attacks and race conditions.
In plain language
No plain-language summary for this CVE yet.
Exploitation
Where each signal puts this CVE on the scale from published to confirmed exploited.
- CISA KEV
Not in the catalog. CISA has not confirmed exploitation.
- Public exploits
No public exploit or proof of concept found in the sources we track.
- EPSS
0.5% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, which ranks it in the 37th percentile of scored CVEs.
Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST.org. A probability, not a confirmation.
Lifecycle
85 events over 461 days, from the signal feeds we watch.
- Patch availableworkaround available, record updated
- Patch availableworkaround available, record updated
- Patch availableworkaround available, record updated
- Patch availableworkaround available, record updated
- Patch availableworkaround available, record updated
- Patch availableworkaround available, record updated
Affected products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10Operating Systems / linux-distro
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10.0 Extended Update SupportOperating Systems / linux-distro
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 Extended Lifecycle SupportOperating Systems / linux-distro
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.2 Advanced Update SupportOperating Systems / linux-distro
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.4 Advanced Mission Critical Update SupportOperating Systems / linux-distro
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Advanced Mission Critical Update SupportOperating Systems / linux-distro
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Telecommunications Update ServiceOperating Systems / linux-distro
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Update Services for SAP SolutionsOperating Systems / linux-distro
And 20 more affected products. See all after sign-in
Technical detail
CVSS 3.1 vector
Open in the CVSS calculatorCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Scored 7.8 by NVD.
How it is reached
- Attack Vector LocalRequires local access to the vulnerable system (e.g. local login, malicious file)
- Attack Complexity LowNo special conditions — the attack can be reliably reproduced
- Privileges Required LowRequires basic user-level privileges
- User Interaction NoneNo user interaction needed — fully automated exploitation
Scope
- Scope UnchangedImpact is limited to the vulnerable component itself
Impact if exploited
- Confidentiality HighTotal information disclosure — all data in the component is compromised
- Integrity HighTotal loss of integrity — attacker can modify any data in the component
- Availability HighTotal denial of service — the component is completely unavailable
Weaknesses
ATT&CK techniques
Mapped from the weaknesses above (CWE to ATT&CK), not observed in attacks.
Sources
References in the record
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/06/17/1&
- access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2025-6020&
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2372512&
And 115 more references. See all after sign-in
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