CVE-2026-48983
Published: Thu, 18 Jun 2026 20:16
Summary
pam_usb provides hardware authentication for Linux using ordinary removable media. In versions prior to 0.9.2, a symlink race condition exists in per-device and per-user pad directory creation. pam_us
Details
pam_usb provides hardware authentication for Linux using ordinary removable media. In versions prior to 0.9.2, a symlink race condition exists in per-device and per-user pad directory creation. pam_usb uses a check-then-act pattern: it calls lstat() to test for existence and then calls mkdir() separately to create the directory. A local attacker can win the race between these calls by replacing the target path with a symlink to a directory they control. If successful, one-time pad files may be written to an attacker-controlled location, potentially exposing future pad values before use or disrupting authentication. This issue has been fixed in version 0.9.2.
Are YOU affected by CVE-2026-48983?
5-second check on your actual server. Reads /etc/os-release, uname -r, and dpkg-query; matches against the live USN + Debian Security Tracker feeds; tells you whether CVE-2026-48983 (and any other live CVE) applies. Anonymous, no signup.
curl https://mindsparkstack.com/scan.sh | bash
References
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