CVE-2013-4288
Race condition in PolicyKit (aka polkit) allows local users to bypass intended PolicyKit...
Race condition in PolicyKit (aka polkit) allows local users to bypass intended PolicyKit restrictions and gain privileges by starting a setuid or pkexec process before the authorization check is performed, related to (1) the polkit_unix_process_new API function, (2) the dbus API, or (3) the --process (unix-process) option for authorization to pkcheck.
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
7.2
Race condition in PolicyKit (aka polkit) allows local users to bypass intended PolicyKit restrictions and gain privileges by starting a setuid or pkexec process before the authorization check is performed, related to (1) the polkit_unix_process_new API function, (2) the dbus API, or (3) the --process (unix-process) option for authorization to pkcheck.
- Record
CVE-2013-4288- CVSS 2.0
- 7.2 High
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C - Weakness
- CWE-362
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List No score
Race condition in PolicyKit (aka polkit) allows local users to bypass intended PolicyKit restrictions and gain privileges by starting a setuid or pkexec process before the authorization check is performed, related to (1) the polkit_unix_process_new API function, (2) the dbus API, or (3) the --process (unix-process) option for authorization to pkcheck.
- Record
CVE-2013-4288- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2013-4184 No score
Race condition in PolicyKit (aka polkit) allows local users to bypass intended PolicyKit restrictions and gain privileges by starting a setuid or pkexec process before the authorization check is performed, related to (1) the polkit_unix_process_new API function, (2) the dbus API, or (3) the --process (unix-process) option for authorization to pkcheck.
- Record
EUVD-2013-4184- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-6wv7-fpg8-f44q No score
Race condition in PolicyKit (aka polkit) allows local users to bypass intended PolicyKit...
Race condition in PolicyKit (aka polkit) allows local users to bypass intended PolicyKit restrictions and gain privileges by starting a setuid or pkexec process before the authorization check is performed, related to (1) the polkit_unix_process_new API function, (2) the dbus API, or (3) the --process (unix-process) option for authorization to pkcheck.
- Record
GHSA-6wv7-fpg8-f44q- Weakness
- CWE-362
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV No score
Race condition in PolicyKit (aka polkit) allows local users to bypass intended PolicyKit restrictions and gain privileges by starting a setuid or pkexec process before the authorization check is performed, related to (1) the polkit_unix_process_new API function, (2) the dbus API, or (3) the --process (unix-process) option for authorization to pkcheck.
- Record
CVE-2013-4288- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2013-4288 No score
Race condition in PolicyKit (aka polkit) allows local users to bypass intended PolicyKit restrictions and gain privileges by starting a setuid or pkexec process before the authorization check is performed, related to (1) the polkit_unix_process_new API function, (2) the dbus API, or (3) the --process (unix-process) option for authorization to pkcheck.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2013-4288- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVMGASA-2013-0293 No score
Updated polkit package and the packages that call polkit fixes security vulnerability
A race condition was found in the way the PolicyKit pkcheck utility checked process authorization when the process was specified by its process ID via the --process option. A local user could use this flaw to bypass intended PolicyKit authorizations and escalate their privileges (CVE-2013-4288).
Note: Applications that invoke pkcheck with the --process option need to be modified to use the pid,pid-start-time,uid argument for that option, to allow pkcheck to check process authorization correctly.
Because of the change in the PolicyKit API, the spice-gtk (CVE-2013-4324), hplip (CVE-2013-4325), rtkit (CVE-2013-4326), and systemd (CVE-2013-4327) packages have been updated to use a different API that is not affected by this PolicyKit vulnerability. The libvirt package will also be updated for the same reason, but this update will come in a separate advisory.
- Record
MGASA-2013-0293- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2024:10356-1 No score
libsystemd0-228-17.1 on GA media
These are all security issues fixed in the libsystemd0-228-17.1 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.
- Record
openSUSE-SU-2024:10356-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2024:10436-1 No score
libpolkit0-0.113-3.4 on GA media
These are all security issues fixed in the libpolkit0-0.113-3.4 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.
- Record
openSUSE-SU-2024:10436-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
policykit-1Debian:12 |
before 0.105-3+nmu1 | 0.105-3+nmu1 |
policykit-1Debian:13 |
before 0.105-3+nmu1 | 0.105-3+nmu1 |
policykit-1Debian:14 |
before 0.105-3+nmu1 | 0.105-3+nmu1 |
polkitMageia:2 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0.104-4.2.mga2 | 0.104-4.2.mga2 |
spice-gtkMageia:2 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0.9-1.2.mga2 | 0.9-1.2.mga2 |
hplipMageia:2 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 3.12.4-1.3.mga2 | 3.12.4-1.3.mga2 |
rtkitMageia:2 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0.10-3.1.mga2 | 0.10-3.1.mga2 |
systemdMageia:2 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 44-13.1.mga2 | 44-13.1.mga2 |
polkitMageia:3 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0.107-6.1.mga3 | 0.107-6.1.mga3 |
spice-gtkMageia:3 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0.15-3.1.mga3 | 0.15-3.1.mga3 |
Show 24 moreShow less
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
hplipMageia:3 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 3.12.9-6.1.mga3 | 3.12.9-6.1.mga3 |
rtkitMageia:3 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0.11-3.1.mga3 | 0.11-3.1.mga3 |
systemdMageia:3 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 195-22.1.mga3 | 195-22.1.mga3 |
polkitRed Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client |
before 0:0.96-5.el6_4 | 0:0.96-5.el6_4 |
polkit-debuginfoRed Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client |
before 0:0.96-5.el6_4 | 0:0.96-5.el6_4 |
polkit-desktop-policyRed Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client |
before 0:0.96-5.el6_4 | 0:0.96-5.el6_4 |
polkit-develRed Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client |
before 0:0.96-5.el6_4 | 0:0.96-5.el6_4 |
polkit-docsRed Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client |
before 0:0.96-5.el6_4 | 0:0.96-5.el6_4 |
polkitRed Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode |
before 0:0.96-5.el6_4 | 0:0.96-5.el6_4 |
polkit-debuginfoRed Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode |
before 0:0.96-5.el6_4 | 0:0.96-5.el6_4 |
polkit-desktop-policyRed Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode |
before 0:0.96-5.el6_4 | 0:0.96-5.el6_4 |
polkit-develRed Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode |
before 0:0.96-5.el6_4 | 0:0.96-5.el6_4 |
polkit-docsRed Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode |
before 0:0.96-5.el6_4 | 0:0.96-5.el6_4 |
polkitRed Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server |
before 0:0.96-5.el6_4 | 0:0.96-5.el6_4 |
polkit-debuginfoRed Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server |
before 0:0.96-5.el6_4 | 0:0.96-5.el6_4 |
polkit-desktop-policyRed Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server |
before 0:0.96-5.el6_4 | 0:0.96-5.el6_4 |
polkit-develRed Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server |
before 0:0.96-5.el6_4 | 0:0.96-5.el6_4 |
polkit-docsRed Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server |
before 0:0.96-5.el6_4 | 0:0.96-5.el6_4 |
polkitRed Hat:enterprise_linux:6::workstation |
before 0:0.96-5.el6_4 | 0:0.96-5.el6_4 |
polkit-debuginfoRed Hat:enterprise_linux:6::workstation |
before 0:0.96-5.el6_4 | 0:0.96-5.el6_4 |
polkit-desktop-policyRed Hat:enterprise_linux:6::workstation |
before 0:0.96-5.el6_4 | 0:0.96-5.el6_4 |
polkit-develRed Hat:enterprise_linux:6::workstation |
before 0:0.96-5.el6_4 | 0:0.96-5.el6_4 |
polkit-docsRed Hat:enterprise_linux:6::workstation |
before 0:0.96-5.el6_4 | 0:0.96-5.el6_4 |
systemdopenSUSE:Tumbleweed From an advisory covering 3 CVEs |
before 228-17.1 | 228-17.1 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| affected, facts | ||
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2013-4288 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.2) in Polkit Project Polkit, published October 3, 2013. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.34%, the 27th percentile. Fixed in policykit-1 0.105-3+nmu1.
References
lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2013-10/msg00005.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-1270.html
lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2013-10/msg00004.html
openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2013/09/18/4
seclists.org/oss-sec/2013/q3/626
lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2013-10/msg00062.html
Show 28 moreShow less
lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2013-11/msg00000.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-1460.html
bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=1002375
ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1953-1
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-4288
access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013:1270
access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2013-4288
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1002375
github.com/advisories/GHSA-6wv7-fpg8-f44q
security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2013-4288
advisories.mageia.org/MGASA-2013-0293.html
bugs.mageia.org/show_bug.cgi?id=11260
rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-1273.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-1274.html
ubuntu.com/usn/usn-1959-1
ubuntu.com/usn/usn-1961-1
access.redhat.com/security/updates/classification
security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/advisories/2013/rhsa-2013_1270.json
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2013-4288
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2012-1174
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2013-4288
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2015-7510
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2010-0750
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2011-1485
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2015-3218
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2015-3255
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2015-3256
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2015-4625