The pa_drop_root function in PulseAudio 0.9.8, and a certain 0.9.9 build, does not check return values from (1) setresuid, (2) setreuid, (3)
The pa_drop_root function in PulseAudio 0.9.8, and a certain 0.9.9 build, does not check return values from (1) setresuid, (2) setreuid, (3) setuid, and (4) seteuid calls when attempting to drop privileges, which might allow local users to gain privileges by causing those calls to fail via attacks such as resource exhaustion.
- Published
- Jan 28, 2008
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 0.6% · 44th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-20
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Report tools
Action score
28
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 28 / 40 · 7.2 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 0 / 30 · 0.6%
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for the hundreds of thousands of vulnerabilities in the database; that wouldn't be honest. For notable, high-impact vulnerabilities our team writes the mechanism, detection and remediation steps.
We use this product, ask for helpAffected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| pulseaudio | pulseaudio | cpe:2.3:a:pulseaudio:pulseaudio |
| mandrakesoft | mandrake linux | cpe:2.3:o:mandrakesoft:mandrake_linux |
| redhat | fedora | cpe:2.3:o:redhat:fedora |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- pulseaudio pulseaudio0.9.6
- pulseaudio pulseaudio0.9.8
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | pulseaudio | before 0.9.9-1 | 0.9.9-1 |
| Debian:4.0 | pulseaudio | before 0.9.5-5etch1 | 0.9.5-5etch1 |
| openSUSE:Tumbleweed | pulseaudio | before 15.0-3.1 | 15.0-3.1 |
Same product
pulseaudio: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2007-1804PulseAudio 0.9.5 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (daemon crash) via (1) a PA_PSTREAM_DESCRIPTOR_LENGTH value of FRAME_S33Monitor
- CVE-2009-1894Race condition in PulseAudio 0.9.9, 0.9.10, and 0.9.14 allows local users to gain privileges via vectors involving creation of a hard link, 28Monitor
- CVE-2009-1299The pa_make_secure_dir function in core-util.c in PulseAudio 0.9.10 and 0.9.19 allows local users to change the ownership and permissions of27Monitor
- CVE-2024-11586Ubuntu's implementation of pulseaudio can be crashed by a malicious program if a bluetooth headset is connected.16Monitor
- CVE-2020-11931Ubuntu modifications to pulseaudio to provide snap security enforcement could be unloaded13Monitor
- CVE-2014-3970The pa_rtp_recv function in modules/rtp/rtp.c in the module-rtp-recv module in PulseAudio 5.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a11Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| debian:pulseaudio | 0.9.9-1 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:pulseaudio | 15.0-3.1 · openSUSE:Tumbleweed | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
No dated events beyond publication.
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
No commit or PR link among the references.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- C · data can be read
- Integrity
- C · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- C · the service can be disrupted
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Confidentiality impact
- C
- Integrity impact
- C
- Availability impact
- C
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-20 · Improper Input ValidationCVSS vector
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
- Buffer Overflow via Environment VariablesCAPEC-10likelihood: High · High
- Server Side Include (SSI) InjectionCAPEC-101likelihood: High · High
- Cross Zone ScriptingCAPEC-104likelihood: Medium · High
- Command Line Execution through SQL InjectionCAPEC-108likelihood: Low · Very High
- Object Relational Mapping InjectionCAPEC-109likelihood: Low · High
- SQL Injection through SOAP Parameter TamperingCAPEC-110likelihood: High · Very High
- Double EncodingCAPEC-120likelihood: Low · Medium
- Subverting Environment Variable ValuesCAPEC-13likelihood: High · Very High
ATT&CK techniques
- Obfuscated Files or InformationT1027
- Masquerading: Invalid Code SignatureT1036.001
- Steal Web Session CookieT1539
- Subvert Trust Controls: Code SigningT1553.002
- Impair Defenses:Impair Command History LoggingT1562.003
- Hijack Execution Flow:Dynamic Linker HijackingT1574.006
- Hijack Execution Flow:Path Interception by PATH Environment VariableT1574.007
Change log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=207214
- secunia.com/advisories/28608
- secunia.com/advisories/28623
- secunia.com/advisories/28738
- secunia.com/advisories/28952
- security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200802-07.xml
- www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1476
- www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2008:027
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/27449
- www.ubuntu.com/usn/usn-573-1
- www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/0283
- bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=347822
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=425481
- exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/39992
- tango.0pointer.de/pipermail/pulseaudio-discuss/2008-January/001228.html
- www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2008-January/msg00852.html
- www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2008-January/msg00869.html
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.