CVE-2025-24531Public exploit

Local authentication bypass via ignored error returns

Published Jan 16, 2026 · Updated Jan 16, 2026

Authentication bypass in OpenSC Project pam_pkcs11 0.6.12 allows local users to log in without valid smart-card credentials. pam_sm_authenticate() initializes its error result to PAM_IGNORE when card_only is unset or no login token name exists, so most smart-card and PKCS#11 failures do not fail the PAM stack. Exploitation requires pam_pkcs11 to be a decisive authentication module with a usable configuration; an invalid smart card can then grant access without authorization.

CVSS severity6.7
Medium
EPSS probability0.23%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authentication bypass in OpenSC Project pam_pkcs11 0.6.12 allows local users to log in without valid smart-card credentials. pam_sm_authenticate() initializes its error result to PAM_IGNORE when card_only is unset or no login token name exists, so most smart-card and PKCS#11 failures do not fail the PAM stack. Exploitation requires pam_pkcs11 to be a decisive authentication module with a usable configuration; an invalid smart card can then grant access without authorization.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-24531
Published
Jan 16, 2026
Updated
Jan 16, 2026
Vendor
OpenSC Project
Product
pam_pkcs11
Classifications
CWE-393
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 16, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 16, 2026Record 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=0.6.12 <0.6.13

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

OpenSC Project · pam_pkcs11version=0.6.12 <0.6.13

Published CVSS scores

6.7MITRECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
9.3GitHubCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/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.

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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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-393Return of Wrong Status Code

Public exploit references

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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