CVE-2026-47274
pam_usb: Uncontrolled search path in pam_usb tools allows privilege escalation via PATH manipulation
Description
pam_usb provides hardware authentication for Linux using ordinary removable media. Prior to 0.9.0, multiple pam_usb helper tools resolved external binaries through the PATH environment variable rather than using absolute paths. An attacker who can influence the process environment during PAM authentication or tool execution could substitute malicious binaries. The affected tools are pamusb-check (src/tmux.c), pamusb-conf (tools/pamusb-conf), and pamusb-keyring-unlock-gnome (tools/pamusb-keyring-unlock-gnome). This vulnerability is fixed in 0.9.0.
INFO
Published Date :
May 27, 2026, 8:16 p.m.
Last Modified :
Oct. 26, 2026, 11:10 a.m.
Remotely Exploit :
No
Source :
[email protected]
CVSS Scores
| Score | Version | Severity | Vector | Exploitability Score | Impact Score | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS | 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0 | |||||
| CVSS 3.1 | MEDIUM | [email protected] |
Solution
- Update pam_usb to version 0.9.0.
- Ensure helper tools use absolute paths.
- Review process environment during PAM authentication.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth
information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to
CVE-2026-47274.
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-47274 is
associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
(CAPEC)
stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2026-47274
weaknesses.
We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).
Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.
The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2026-47274 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2026-47274 vulnerability over time.
Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.
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CVE Translated by [email protected]
Oct. 26, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Translation Title: pam_usb de mcdope, Description: pam_usb proporciona autenticación de hardware para Linux utilizando medios extraíbles ordinarios. Antes de 0.9.0, múltiples herramientas auxiliares de pam_usb resolvían binarios externos a través de la variable de entorno PATH en lugar de utilizar rutas absolutas. Un atacante que puede influir en el entorno del proceso durante la autenticación PAM o la ejecución de la herramienta podría sustituir binarios maliciosos. Las herramientas afectadas son pamusb-check (src/tmux.c), pamusb-conf (tools/pamusb-conf) y pamusb-keyring-unlock-gnome (tools/pamusb-keyring-unlock-gnome). Esta vulnerabilidad está corregida en 0.9.0. -
CVE Modified by [email protected]
Jun. 17, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Affected [{'vendor': 'mcdope', 'product': 'pam_usb', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '< 0.9.0'}]}] -
CVE Modified by 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
Jun. 17, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added SSVC {'id': 'CVE-2026-47274', 'role': 'CISA Coordinator', 'options': [{'exploitation': 'none'}, {'automatable': 'no'}, {'technicalImpact': 'total'}], 'version': '2.0.3', 'timestamp': '2026-05-30T01:47:06.236927Z'} -
New CVE Received by [email protected]
May. 27, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Description pam_usb provides hardware authentication for Linux using ordinary removable media. Prior to 0.9.0, multiple pam_usb helper tools resolved external binaries through the PATH environment variable rather than using absolute paths. An attacker who can influence the process environment during PAM authentication or tool execution could substitute malicious binaries. The affected tools are pamusb-check (src/tmux.c), pamusb-conf (tools/pamusb-conf), and pamusb-keyring-unlock-gnome (tools/pamusb-keyring-unlock-gnome). This vulnerability is fixed in 0.9.0. Added CVSS V3.1 AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N Added CWE CWE-427 Added Reference https://github.com/mcdope/pam_usb/commit/1ee8745920388df48d001a8e61ba629071557937 Added Reference https://github.com/mcdope/pam_usb/commit/52a1fd6413b7ffcc1a5b58ce432be42e7bf0dbd0 Added Reference https://github.com/mcdope/pam_usb/commit/993e73d8bebb1d8e62677388de3402b6ec36b600 Added Reference https://github.com/mcdope/pam_usb/security/advisories/GHSA-pp29-w28g-r9h9