CVE-2025-8941
Publication date 13 August 2025
Last updated 20 October 2025
Ubuntu priority
Cvss 3 Severity Score
Description
A flaw was found in linux-pam. The pam_namespace module may improperly handle user-controlled paths, allowing local users to exploit symlink attacks and race conditions to elevate their privileges to root. This CVE provides a "complete" fix for CVE-2025-6020.
Status
| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status | 
|---|---|---|
| pam | 25.10 questing | 
                              
                               
                                Vulnerable, fix deferred 
                                
                               
                             |      
                          
                            
                          
                        
                      
| 25.04 plucky | 
                              
                               
                                Vulnerable, fix deferred 
                                
                               
                             |      
                          
                            
                          
                        
                      |
| 24.04 LTS noble | 
                              
                               
                                Vulnerable, fix deferred 
                                
                               
                             |      
                          
                            
                          
                        
                      |
| 22.04 LTS jammy | 
                              
                               
                                Vulnerable, fix deferred 
                                
                               
                             |      
                          
                            
                          
                        
                      |
| 20.04 LTS focal | 
                              
                               
                                Vulnerable, fix deferred 
                                
                               
                             |      
                          
                            
                          
                        
                      |
| 18.04 LTS bionic | 
                              
                               
                                Vulnerable, fix deferred 
                                
                               
                             |      
                          
                            
                          
                        
                      |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | 
                              
                               
                                Vulnerable, fix deferred 
                                
                               
                             |      
                          
                            
                          
                        
                      |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | 
                              
                               
                                Vulnerable, fix deferred 
                                
                               
                             |      
                          
                            
                          
                        
                      
Notes
mdeslaur
This may be a Red Hat specific incomplete-fix CVE. As of 2025-10-20, there are no additional details, and the upstream linux-pam repo has no additional commits for the pam_namespace module. Marking as deferred until we get more information.
Severity score breakdown
| Parameter | Value | 
|---|---|
| Base score | 
                      
                      
                         | 
                  
| Attack vector | Local | 
| Attack complexity | Low | 
| Privileges required | Low | 
| User interaction | None | 
| Scope | Unchanged | 
| Confidentiality | High | 
| Integrity impact | High | 
| Availability impact | High | 
| Vector | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |