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Findings

CVE-2021-3560

Red Hat Polkit Incorrect Authorization Vulnerability

Published Feb 16, 2022 · updated Jun 16, 2026 · polkit project polkit

It was found that polkit could be tricked into bypassing the credential checks for D-Bus requests, elevating the privileges of the requestor to the root user. This flaw could be used by an unprivileged local attacker to, for example, create a new local administrator. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to data confidentiality and integrity as well as system availability.

Timeline

Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.

  1. Feb 16, 2022 · Catalog

    Detected

    It was found that polkit could be tricked into bypassing the credential checks for D-Bus requests, elevating the privileges of the requestor to the root user. This flaw could be used by an unprivileged local attacker to, for example, create a new local administrator. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to data confidentiality and integrity as well as system availability.

  2. May 12, 2023 · CISA KEV

    Known exploited

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

  3. Jun 2, 2023 · CISA KEV

    Remediation due

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

  4. Jun 16, 2026 · Catalog

    Updated

    It was found that polkit could be tricked into bypassing the credential checks for D-Bus requests, elevating the privileges of the requestor to the root user. This flaw could be used by an unprivileged local attacker to, for example, create a new local administrator. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to data confidentiality and integrity as well as system availability.

Required action

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

CISA due date Jun 2, 2023

Affected

  • cpe canonical/ubuntu linux20.04
  • cpe debian/debian linux11.0
  • cpe polkit project/polkitversion unspecified
  • cpe redhat/openshift container platform4.7
  • cpe redhat/virtualization4.0
  • cpe redhat/virtualization host4.0
  • vendor Red Hat Polkitversion unspecified

Sources

  • CISA KEVCVE-2021-3560

    Red Hat Polkit contains an incorrect authorization vulnerability through the bypassing of credential checks for D-Bus requests, allowing for privilege escalation.

    cisa.gov
  • CVE.orgCVE-2021-3560

    Official CVE identifier

    cve.org
  • FIRST EPSSCVE-2021-3560

    30-day exploitation probability 23.7%

    first.org
  • Exploit Database50011

    Public archive entry. The exploit body is not stored here.

    exploit-db.com
  • Metasploit Modulesexploit_linux/local/polkit_dbus_auth_bypass

    Public module reference (excellent). Module source is not copied into this catalog.

    rapid7.com
  • NIST NVDCVE-2021-3560

    It was found that polkit could be tricked into bypassing the credential checks for D-Bus requests, elevating the privileges of the requestor to the root user. This flaw could be used by an unprivileged local attacker to, for example, create a new local administrator. The highest

    nvd.nist.gov

References