CVE-2018-19788
A flaw was found in PolicyKit (aka polkit) 0.115 that allows a user with a uid greater than...
A flaw was found in PolicyKit (aka polkit) 0.115 that allows a user with a uid greater than INT_MAX to successfully execute any systemctl command.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
A flaw was found in PolicyKit (aka polkit) 0.115 that allows a user with a uid greater than INT_MAX to successfully execute any systemctl command.
- Record
CVE-2018-19788- CVSS 3.0
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 9.0 High
AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:C/I:C/A:C - Weakness
- CWE-20
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List No score
A flaw was found in PolicyKit (aka polkit) 0.115 that allows a user with a uid greater than INT_MAX to successfully execute any systemctl command.
- Record
CVE-2018-19788- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2018-11469 No score
A flaw was found in PolicyKit (aka polkit) 0.115 that allows a user with a uid greater than INT_MAX to successfully execute any systemctl command.
- Record
EUVD-2018-11469- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-4569-2jp2-r7vf
A flaw was found in PolicyKit (aka polkit) 0.115 that allows a user with a uid greater than...
A flaw was found in PolicyKit (aka polkit) 0.115 that allows a user with a uid greater than INT_MAX to successfully execute any systemctl command.
- Record
GHSA-4569-2jp2-r7vf- CVSS 3.0
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-20
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVALPINE-CVE-2018-19788
A flaw was found in PolicyKit (aka polkit) 0.115 that allows a user with a uid greater than INT_MAX to successfully execute any systemctl command.
- Record
ALPINE-CVE-2018-19788- CVSS 3.0
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
A flaw was found in PolicyKit (aka polkit) 0.115 that allows a user with a uid greater than INT_MAX to successfully execute any systemctl command.
- Record
CVE-2018-19788- CVSS 3.0
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
Show 10 moreShow less
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2018-19788
A flaw was found in PolicyKit (aka polkit) 0.115 that allows a user with a uid greater than INT_MAX to successfully execute any systemctl command.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2018-19788- CVSS 3.0
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVRHSA-2019:2046
Red Hat Security Advisory: polkit security and bug fix update
- Record
RHSA-2019:2046- CVSS 3.0
- 7.0 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVRHSA-2019:3232
Red Hat Security Advisory: polkit security update
- Record
RHSA-2019:3232- CVSS 3.0
- 7.0 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2018-19788
A flaw was found in PolicyKit (aka polkit) 0.115 that allows a user with a uid greater than INT_MAX to successfully execute any systemctl command.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2018-19788- CVSS 3.0
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2019:0010-1 No score
Security update for polkit
This update for polkit fixes the following issues:
Security issue fixed:
- CVE-2018-19788: Fixed handling of UIDs over MAX_UINT (bsc#1118277)
This update was imported from the SUSE:SLE-15:Update update project.
- Record
openSUSE-SU-2019:0010-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2024:11180-1 No score
libpolkit0-0.118-7.2 on GA media
These are all security issues fixed in the libpolkit0-0.118-7.2 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.
- Record
openSUSE-SU-2024:11180-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2019:0015-1 No score
Security update for polkit
This update for polkit fixes the following issues:
Security issue fixed:
- CVE-2018-19788: Fixed handling of UIDs over MAX_UINT (bsc#1118277)
- Record
SUSE-SU-2019:0015-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2019:0019-1 No score
Security update for polkit
This update for polkit fixes the following issues:
Security issue fixed:
- CVE-2018-19788: Fixed handling of UIDs over MAX_UINT (bsc#1118277)
- Record
SUSE-SU-2019:0019-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2019:0019-2 No score
Security update for polkit
This update for polkit fixes the following issues:
Security issue fixed:
- CVE-2018-19788: Fixed handling of UIDs over MAX_UINT (bsc#1118277)
- Record
SUSE-SU-2019:0019-2- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUSN-3861-1 No score
policykit-1 vulnerability
It was discovered that PolicyKit incorrectly handled certain large user UIDs. A local attacker with a large UID could possibly use this issue to perform privileged actions.
- Record
USN-3861-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
polkitAlpine:v3.6 |
before 0.105-r8 | 0.105-r8 |
polkitAlpine:v3.7 |
before 0.105-r8 | 0.105-r8 |
polkitAlpine:v3.8 |
before 0.105-r9 | 0.105-r9 |
polkitAlpine:v3.9 |
before 0.105-r9 | 0.105-r9 |
policykit-1Debian:12 |
before 0.105-23 | 0.105-23 |
policykit-1Debian:13 |
before 0.105-23 | 0.105-23 |
policykit-1Debian:14 |
before 0.105-23 | 0.105-23 |
policykit-1Debian:8 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 0.105-15~deb8u4, plus listed versions 0.105-100.105-110.105-120.105-130.105-14 Show 6 moreShow less0.105-14.10.105-15~deb8u10.105-15~deb8u20.105-15~deb8u30.105-80.105-9 |
0.105-15~deb8u4 |
policykit-1Debian:9 |
before 0.105-18+deb9u1, plus listed versions 0.105-18 |
0.105-18+deb9u1 |
polkitRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client |
before 0:0.112-22.el7 | 0:0.112-22.el7 |
Show 47 moreShow less
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
polkit-debuginfoRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client |
before 0:0.112-22.el7 | 0:0.112-22.el7 |
polkit-develRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client |
before 0:0.112-22.el7 | 0:0.112-22.el7 |
polkit-docsRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client |
before 0:0.112-22.el7 | 0:0.112-22.el7 |
polkitRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::computenode |
before 0:0.112-22.el7 | 0:0.112-22.el7 |
polkit-debuginfoRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::computenode |
before 0:0.112-22.el7 | 0:0.112-22.el7 |
polkit-develRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::computenode |
before 0:0.112-22.el7 | 0:0.112-22.el7 |
polkit-docsRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::computenode |
before 0:0.112-22.el7 | 0:0.112-22.el7 |
polkitRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server |
before 0:0.112-22.el7 | 0:0.112-22.el7 |
polkit-debuginfoRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server |
before 0:0.112-22.el7 | 0:0.112-22.el7 |
polkit-develRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server |
before 0:0.112-22.el7 | 0:0.112-22.el7 |
polkit-docsRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server |
before 0:0.112-22.el7 | 0:0.112-22.el7 |
polkitRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation |
before 0:0.112-22.el7 | 0:0.112-22.el7 |
polkit-debuginfoRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation |
before 0:0.112-22.el7 | 0:0.112-22.el7 |
polkit-develRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation |
before 0:0.112-22.el7 | 0:0.112-22.el7 |
polkit-docsRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation |
before 0:0.112-22.el7 | 0:0.112-22.el7 |
polkitRed Hat:rhel_eus:7.6::computenode |
before 0:0.112-18.el7_6.2 | 0:0.112-18.el7_6.2 |
polkit-debuginfoRed Hat:rhel_eus:7.6::computenode |
before 0:0.112-18.el7_6.2 | 0:0.112-18.el7_6.2 |
polkit-develRed Hat:rhel_eus:7.6::computenode |
before 0:0.112-18.el7_6.2 | 0:0.112-18.el7_6.2 |
polkit-docsRed Hat:rhel_eus:7.6::computenode |
before 0:0.112-18.el7_6.2 | 0:0.112-18.el7_6.2 |
polkitRed Hat:rhel_eus:7.6::server |
before 0:0.112-18.el7_6.2 | 0:0.112-18.el7_6.2 |
polkit-debuginfoRed Hat:rhel_eus:7.6::server |
before 0:0.112-18.el7_6.2 | 0:0.112-18.el7_6.2 |
polkit-develRed Hat:rhel_eus:7.6::server |
before 0:0.112-18.el7_6.2 | 0:0.112-18.el7_6.2 |
polkit-docsRed Hat:rhel_eus:7.6::server |
before 0:0.112-18.el7_6.2 | 0:0.112-18.el7_6.2 |
polkitSUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 |
before 0.114-3.6.1 | 0.114-3.6.1 |
polkitSUSE:OpenStack Cloud 7 |
before 0.113-5.15.1 | 0.113-5.15.1 |
polkitSUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP3 |
before 0.113-5.15.1 | 0.113-5.15.1 |
polkitSUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP4 |
before 0.113-5.15.1 | 0.113-5.15.1 |
polkitSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP2 |
before 0.113-5.15.1 | 0.113-5.15.1 |
polkitSUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP3 |
before 0.113-5.15.1 | 0.113-5.15.1 |
polkitSUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP4 |
before 0.113-5.15.1 | 0.113-5.15.1 |
polkitSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12-LTSS |
before 0.113-5.15.1 | 0.113-5.15.1 |
polkitSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP1-LTSS |
before 0.113-5.15.1 | 0.113-5.15.1 |
polkitSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP2-LTSS |
before 0.113-5.15.1 | 0.113-5.15.1 |
polkitSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP2-BCL |
before 0.113-5.15.1 | 0.113-5.15.1 |
polkitSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP3 |
before 0.113-5.15.1 | 0.113-5.15.1 |
polkitSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP3 |
before 0.113-5.15.1 | 0.113-5.15.1 |
polkitSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4 |
before 0.113-5.15.1 | 0.113-5.15.1 |
polkitSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP4 |
before 0.113-5.15.1 | 0.113-5.15.1 |
polkitSUSE:Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 12 SP3 |
before 0.113-5.15.1 | 0.113-5.15.1 |
polkitSUSE:Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 12 SP4 |
before 0.113-5.15.1 | 0.113-5.15.1 |
polkitSUSE:Enterprise Storage 4 |
before 0.113-5.15.1 | 0.113-5.15.1 |
polkitSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP1 |
before 0.113-5.15.1 | 0.113-5.15.1 |
policykit-1Ubuntu:14.04:LTS |
before 0.105-4ubuntu3.14.04.5, plus listed versions 0.105-3ubuntu30.105-4ubuntu10.105-4ubuntu20.105-4ubuntu2.14.04.10.105-4ubuntu3.14.04.10.105-4ubuntu3.14.04.2 |
0.105-4ubuntu3.14.04.5 |
policykit-1Ubuntu:16.04:LTS |
before 0.105-14.1ubuntu0.4, plus listed versions 0.105-11ubuntu20.105-130.105-13ubuntu10.105-140.105-14.10.105-14.1ubuntu0.1 |
0.105-14.1ubuntu0.4 |
policykit-1Ubuntu:18.04:LTS |
before 0.105-20ubuntu0.18.04.4, plus listed versions 0.105-180.105-200.105-20ubuntu0.18.04.1 |
0.105-20ubuntu0.18.04.4 |
polkitopenSUSE:Leap 15.0 |
before 0.114-lp150.2.6.1 | 0.114-lp150.2.6.1 |
polkitopenSUSE:Tumbleweed From an advisory covering 4 CVEs |
before 0.118-7.2 | 0.118-7.2 |
Public exploits
Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.
| Source | Link | Date |
|---|---|---|
| PoC in GitHub | AbsoZed/CVE-2018-19788 | 2018-12-07 |
| PoC in GitHub | d4gh0s7/CVE-2018-19788 | 2018-12-07 |
| PoC in GitHub | Ekultek/PoC | 2018-12-17 |
| PoC in GitHub | jhlongjr/CVE-2018-19788 | 2018-12-31 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| affected, exploits, facts | ||
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV, PoC in GitHub |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2018-19788 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.8) in Polkit Project Polkit, published December 3, 2018. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 11.6%, the 96th percentile. Fixed in polkit 0.105-r8.
References
usn.ubuntu.com/3861-1
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/01/msg00021.html
bugs.debian.org/915332
gitlab.freedesktop.org/polkit/polkit/issues/74
debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4350
Show 27 moreShow less
access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:2046
security.gentoo.org/glsa/201908-14
security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20240816-0001
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-19788
github.com/advisories/GHSA-4569-2jp2-r7vf
security.alpinelinux.org/vuln/CVE-2018-19788
security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2018-19788
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1655925
security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/advisories/2019/rhsa-2019_2046.json
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-19788
suse.com/support/update/announcement/2019/suse-su-20190015-1
bugzilla.suse.com/1118277
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2018-19788
lists.opensuse.org/archives/list/[email protected]/thread/6OKC663KCCSTWAYHTLR6YG6QB4LCIPIQ