CVE-2025-53391Public exploit

Local root escalation via self-authorized zuluPolkit

Published Jun 28, 2025 · Updated Jun 30, 2025

Incorrect authorization in Debian zuluCrypt 5.5.0-1 through 6.2.0-1 allows local users to gain root privileges through zuluPolkit. A Debian patch changes all three PolicyKit defaults in zuluPolkit/CMakeLists.txt from auth_admin to auth_self, exposing the root-running helper's arbitrary Read and Write commands after self-authentication. Any local account with its own password can overwrite protected files such as /etc/shadow and obtain full root control.

CVSS severity9.3
Critical
EPSS probability0.15%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Incorrect authorization in Debian zuluCrypt 5.5.0-1 through 6.2.0-1 allows local users to gain root privileges through zuluPolkit. A Debian patch changes all three PolicyKit defaults in zuluPolkit/CMakeLists.txt from auth_admin to auth_self, exposing the root-running helper's arbitrary Read and Write commands after self-authentication. Any local account with its own password can overwrite protected files such as /etc/shadow and obtain full root control.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-53391
Published
Jun 28, 2025
Updated
Jun 30, 2025
Vendor
Debian
Product
zuluCrypt
Classifications
CWE-863, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 28, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jun 30, 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=zulucrypt_5.5.0-1 <=zulucrypt_6.2.0-1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Debian · zuluCryptversion=zulucrypt_5.5.0-1 <=zulucrypt_6.2.0-1

Published CVSS scores

9.3MITRECVSS: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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-863Incorrect Authorization
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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