Description
In systemd before v242-rc4, it was discovered that pam_systemd does not properly sanitize the environment before using the XDG_SEAT variable. It is possible for an attacker, in some particular configurations, to set a XDG_SEAT environment variable which allows for commands to be checked against polkit policies using the "allow_active" element rather than "allow_any".
Published: 2019-04-09
Score: 7.0 High
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
AI Analysis

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Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

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Tracking

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Advisories
Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-1762-1 systemd security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-4428-1 systemd security update
EUVD EUVD EUVD-2019-13462 In systemd before v242-rc4, it was discovered that pam_systemd does not properly sanitize the environment before using the XDG_SEAT variable. It is possible for an attacker, in some particular configurations, to set a XDG_SEAT environment variable which allows for commands to be checked against polkit policies using the "allow_active" element rather than "allow_any".
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-3938-1 systemd vulnerability
History

Sat, 12 Jul 2025 13:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics epss

{'score': 0.00096}

epss

{'score': 0.0009}


Mon, 09 Jun 2025 16:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Subscriptions

Debian Debian Linux
Fedoraproject Fedora
Redhat Enterprise Linux Rhel Eus
Systemd Project Systemd
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: redhat

Published:

Updated: 2025-06-09T15:47:28.243Z

Reserved: 2019-01-03T00:00:00.000Z

Link: CVE-2019-3842

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2024-08-04T19:19:18.556Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Modified

Published: 2019-04-09T21:29:03.443

Modified: 2024-11-21T04:42:40.903

Link: CVE-2019-3842

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Moderate

Publid Date: 2019-04-08T00:00:00Z

Links: CVE-2019-3842 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

No data.

Weaknesses