CVE-2024-47191Public exploit

Root privilege escalation via symlink-following usersfile writes

Published Oct 9, 2024 · Updated Oct 18, 2024

Local privilege escalation in OATH Toolkit 2.6.7 through 2.6.11 allows local users to obtain root privileges via a crafted symlink. When pam_oath.so processes a usersfile under an unprivileged home directory, oath_authenticate_usersfile() follows a preplaced .new symlink and uses root privileges to overwrite and fchown its target. The PAM stack must run as root with a ${HOME}-expanded usersfile path, and no race is required to replace a root-owned file and take full control.

CVSS severity7.1
High
EPSS probability0.34%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Local privilege escalation in OATH Toolkit 2.6.7 through 2.6.11 allows local users to obtain root privileges via a crafted symlink. When pam_oath.so processes a usersfile under an unprivileged home directory, oath_authenticate_usersfile() follows a preplaced .new symlink and uses root privileges to overwrite and fchown its target. The PAM stack must run as root with a ${HOME}-expanded usersfile path, and no race is required to replace a root-owned file and take full control.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-47191
Published
Oct 9, 2024
Updated
Oct 18, 2024
Vendor
OATH Toolkit
Product
OATH Toolkit
Classifications
CWE-22, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 9, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 18, 2024Record 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=2.6.7 <2.6.12

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

OATH Toolkit · OATH Toolkitversion=2.6.7 <2.6.12

Published CVSS scores

7.1CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N

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.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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