CVE-2025-6020

Linux-pam: linux-pam directory traversal

Description

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.

Remediation

Workaround:

  • Disable the `pam_namespace` module if it is not essential for your environment, or carefully review and configure it to avoid operating on any directories or paths that can be influenced or controlled by unprivileged users, such as user home directories or world-writable locations like `/tmp`.

Category

7.8
CVSS
Severity: High
CVSS 3.1 •
EPSS 0.02%
Vendor Advisory redhat.com Vendor Advisory redhat.com Vendor Advisory redhat.com Vendor Advisory redhat.com Vendor Advisory redhat.com Vendor Advisory redhat.com Vendor Advisory redhat.com Vendor Advisory redhat.com Vendor Advisory redhat.com Vendor Advisory redhat.com Vendor Advisory redhat.com Vendor Advisory redhat.com Vendor Advisory redhat.com Vendor Advisory redhat.com Vendor Advisory redhat.com
Affected: Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 Extended Lifecycle Support
Affected: Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
Affected: Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
Affected: Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.2 Advanced Update Support
Affected: Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.4 Advanced Mission Critical Update Support
Affected: Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Advanced Mission Critical Update Support
Affected: Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Telecommunications Update Service
Affected: Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Update Services for SAP Solutions
Affected: Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.8 Telecommunications Update Service
Affected: Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.8 Update Services for SAP Solutions
Affected: Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
Affected: Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
Affected: Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.0 Update Services for SAP Solutions
Affected: Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2 Update Services for SAP Solutions
Affected: Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.4 Extended Update Support
Affected: Red Hat RHEL-8 based Middleware Containers
Affected: Red Hat RHEL-8 based Middleware Containers
Affected: Red Hat RHEL-8 based Middleware Containers
Affected: Red Hat RHEL-8 based Middleware Containers
Affected: Red Hat RHEL-8 based Middleware Containers
Affected: Red Hat RHEL-8 based Middleware Containers
Affected: Red Hat RHEL-8 based Middleware Containers
Affected: Red Hat RHEL-8 based Middleware Containers
Affected: Red Hat RHEL-8 based Middleware Containers
Affected: Red Hat Red Hat Discovery 2
Affected: Red Hat Red Hat OpenShift distributed tracing 3.6.1
Affected: Red Hat Red Hat OpenShift distributed tracing 3.6.1
Affected: Red Hat Red Hat OpenShift distributed tracing 3.6.1
Affected: Red Hat Red Hat OpenShift distributed tracing 3.6.1
Affected: Red Hat Red Hat OpenShift distributed tracing 3.6.1
Affected: Red Hat Red Hat OpenShift distributed tracing 3.6.1
Affected: Red Hat Red Hat OpenShift distributed tracing 3.6.1
Affected: Red Hat Red Hat OpenShift distributed tracing 3.6.1
Affected: Red Hat Red Hat OpenShift distributed tracing 3.6.1
Published at:
Updated at:

References

Link Tags
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:10024 vendor advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:10027 vendor advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:10180 vendor advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:10354 vendor advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:10357 vendor advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:10358 vendor advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:10359 vendor advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:10361 vendor advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:10362 vendor advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:10735 vendor advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:10823 vendor advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:11386 vendor advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:11487 vendor advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:14557 vendor advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2025:9526 vendor advisory
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2025-6020 vdb entry
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2372512 issue tracking
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/06/17/1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the severity of CVE-2025-6020?
CVE-2025-6020 has been scored as a high severity vulnerability.
How to fix CVE-2025-6020?
As a workaround for remediating CVE-2025-6020: Disable the `pam_namespace` module if it is not essential for your environment, or carefully review and configure it to avoid operating on any directories or paths that can be influenced or controlled by unprivileged users, such as user home directories or world-writable locations like `/tmp`.
Is CVE-2025-6020 being actively exploited in the wild?
As for now, there are no information to confirm that CVE-2025-6020 is being actively exploited. According to its EPSS score, there is a ~0% probability that this vulnerability will be exploited by malicious actors in the next 30 days.
What software or system is affected by CVE-2025-6020?
CVE-2025-6020 affects Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 Extended Lifecycle Support, Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.2 Advanced Update Support, Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.4 Advanced Mission Critical Update Support, Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Advanced Mission Critical Update Support, Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Telecommunications Update Service, Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Update Services for SAP Solutions, Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.8 Telecommunications Update Service, Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.8 Update Services for SAP Solutions, Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9, Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9, Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.0 Update Services for SAP Solutions, Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2 Update Services for SAP Solutions, Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.4 Extended Update Support, Red Hat RHEL-8 based Middleware Containers, Red Hat RHEL-8 based Middleware Containers, Red Hat RHEL-8 based Middleware Containers, Red Hat RHEL-8 based Middleware Containers, Red Hat RHEL-8 based Middleware Containers, Red Hat RHEL-8 based Middleware Containers, Red Hat RHEL-8 based Middleware Containers, Red Hat RHEL-8 based Middleware Containers, Red Hat RHEL-8 based Middleware Containers, Red Hat Red Hat Discovery 2, Red Hat Red Hat OpenShift distributed tracing 3.6.1, Red Hat Red Hat OpenShift distributed tracing 3.6.1, Red Hat Red Hat OpenShift distributed tracing 3.6.1, Red Hat Red Hat OpenShift distributed tracing 3.6.1, Red Hat Red Hat OpenShift distributed tracing 3.6.1, Red Hat Red Hat OpenShift distributed tracing 3.6.1, Red Hat Red Hat OpenShift distributed tracing 3.6.1, Red Hat Red Hat OpenShift distributed tracing 3.6.1, Red Hat Red Hat OpenShift distributed tracing 3.6.1.
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