CVE-2024-6126

Authenticated process termination via mutable SSH_AGENT_PID

Published Jul 3, 2024 · Updated Nov 21, 2025

Resource-consumption flaw in Cockpit before 320 allows local users to terminate arbitrary processes through a modified SSH_AGENT_PID. In src/pam-ssh-add/pam-ssh-add.c, pam_sm_close_session() rereads SSH_AGENT_PID from the PAM environment and sends SIGTERM with elevated privilege instead of retaining the agent PID created at session start. Exploitation requires an authenticated local Cockpit session and pam_env user_readenv enabled; changing the variable can stop a chosen process and interrupt its service.

CVSS severity3.2
Low
EPSS probability0.27%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Resource-consumption flaw in Cockpit before 320 allows local users to terminate arbitrary processes through a modified SSH_AGENT_PID. In src/pam-ssh-add/pam-ssh-add.c, pam_sm_close_session() rereads SSH_AGENT_PID from the PAM environment and sends SIGTERM with elevated privilege instead of retaining the agent PID created at session start. Exploitation requires an authenticated local Cockpit session and pam_env user_readenv enabled; changing the variable can stop a chosen process and interrupt its service.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-6126
Published
Jul 3, 2024
Updated
Nov 21, 2025
Vendor
Red Hat
Product
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
Classifications
CWE-400, T1489
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 3, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 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?

Affected versions are unavailable in this record. Check the vendor advisory for version and patch details.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Red Hat · Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8Affected versions are unavailable in this record.
Red Hat · Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9Affected versions are unavailable in this record.
Cockpit Project · CockpitAffected versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

3.2Red HatCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:L
4.7SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-400Uncontrolled Resource Consumption
T1489Service Stop

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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