Root privilege escalation via interrupted D-Bus request
Published Feb 16, 2022 · Updated Oct 21, 2025
Incorrect authorization in Polkit allows local users to gain root privileges through a deliberately interrupted D-Bus request. polkit_system_bus_name_get_creds_sync returns success after the sender disconnects, and an unchecked error causes the request to be treated as UID 0. Exploitation requires an unprivileged local session, precise disconnect timing, and an implied Polkit action, after which privileged operations can create an administrator account.
Summary
What happened
Incorrect authorization in Polkit allows local users to gain root privileges through a deliberately interrupted D-Bus request. polkit_system_bus_name_get_creds_sync returns success after the sender disconnects, and an unchecked error causes the request to be treated as UID 0. Exploitation requires an unprivileged local session, precise disconnect timing, and an implied Polkit action, after which privileged operations can create an administrator account.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2021-3560
- Published
- Feb 16, 2022
- Updated
- Oct 21, 2025
- Vendor
- Libslirp Project
- Product
- Polkit
- Classifications
- CWE-863, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Feb 16, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- May 12, 2023Exploitation reportedCISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog listing
- Oct 21, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=polkit 0.119
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Polkit 0.105-26 0.117-2 Local Privilege Escalationfunctional · demonstrated
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Reported exploitation
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog listingknown exploited catalog
Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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