The check_rpcsec_auth function in kadmin/server/kadm_rpc_svc.c in kadmind in MIT Kerberos 5 (aka krb5) through 1.11.5, 1.12.x through 1.12.2
The check_rpcsec_auth function in kadmin/server/kadm_rpc_svc.c in kadmind in MIT Kerberos 5 (aka krb5) through 1.11.5, 1.12.x through 1.12.2, and 1.13.x before 1.13.1 allows remote authenticated users to bypass a kadmin/* authorization check and obtain administrative access by leveraging access to a two-component principal with an initial "kadmind" substring, as demonstrated by a "ka/x" principal.
- Published
- Feb 19, 2015
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 2.7% · 86th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-284
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Report tools
Action score
25
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 24 / 40 · 6.1 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 1 / 30 · 2.7%
Affected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| mit | kerberos 5 | cpe:2.3:a:mit:kerberos_5 |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- mit kerberos 51.11
- mit kerberos 51.11.1
- mit kerberos 51.11.2
- mit kerberos 51.11.3
- mit kerberos 51.11.4
- mit kerberos 51.11.5
- mit kerberos 51.12
- mit kerberos 51.12.1
- mit kerberos 51.12.2
- mit kerberos 51.13
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | krb5 | before 1.12.1+dfsg-17 | 1.12.1+dfsg-17 |
| Debian:6.0 | krb5 | before 1.8.3+dfsg-4squeeze9 | 1.8.3+dfsg-4squeeze9 |
| Debian:7 | krb5 | before 1.10.1+dfsg-5+deb7u3 | 1.10.1+dfsg-5+deb7u3 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | krb5 | before 0:1.10.3-37.el6_6 | 0:1.10.3-37.el6_6 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | krb5-debuginfo | before 0:1.10.3-37.el6_6 | 0:1.10.3-37.el6_6 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | krb5-devel | before 0:1.10.3-37.el6_6 | 0:1.10.3-37.el6_6 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | krb5-libs | before 0:1.10.3-37.el6_6 | 0:1.10.3-37.el6_6 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | krb5-pkinit-openssl | before 0:1.10.3-37.el6_6 | 0:1.10.3-37.el6_6 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | krb5-server | before 0:1.10.3-37.el6_6 | 0:1.10.3-37.el6_6 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | krb5-server-ldap | before 0:1.10.3-37.el6_6 | 0:1.10.3-37.el6_6 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | krb5-workstation | before 0:1.10.3-37.el6_6 | 0:1.10.3-37.el6_6 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | krb5 | before 0:1.12.2-14.el7 | 0:1.12.2-14.el7 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | krb5-debuginfo | before 0:1.12.2-14.el7 | 0:1.12.2-14.el7 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | krb5-devel | before 0:1.12.2-14.el7 | 0:1.12.2-14.el7 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | krb5-libs | before 0:1.12.2-14.el7 | 0:1.12.2-14.el7 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | krb5-pkinit | before 0:1.12.2-14.el7 | 0:1.12.2-14.el7 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | krb5-server | before 0:1.12.2-14.el7 | 0:1.12.2-14.el7 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | krb5-server-ldap | before 0:1.12.2-14.el7 | 0:1.12.2-14.el7 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | krb5-workstation | before 0:1.12.2-14.el7 | 0:1.12.2-14.el7 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 | krb5 | before 1.12.1-9.1 | 1.12.1-9.1 |
Same product
mit: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2007-0956The telnet daemon (telnetd) in MIT krb5 before 1.6.1 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and gain system access via a username 49Plan
- CVE-2011-0285The process_chpw_request function in schpw.c in the password-changing functionality in kadmind in MIT Kerberos 5 (aka krb5) 1.7 through 1.9 46Plan
- CVE-2001-0247Buffer overflows in BSD-based FTP servers allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a long pattern string containing a {} se46Plan
- CVE-2002-1235The kadm_ser_in function in (1) the Kerberos v4compatibility administration daemon (kadmind4) in the MIT Kerberos 5 (krb5) krb5-1.2.6 and ea45Plan
- CVE-2009-0846The asn1_decode_generaltime function in lib/krb5/asn.1/asn1_decode.c in the ASN.1 GeneralizedTime decoder in MIT Kerberos 5 (aka krb5) befor43Plan
- CVE-2008-0947Buffer overflow in the RPC library used by libgssrpc and kadmind in MIT Kerberos 5 (krb5) 1.4 through 1.6.3 allows remote attackers to execu43Plan
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:krb5 | 1.12.1+dfsg-17 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:krb5 | 0:1.12.2-14.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:krb5-debuginfo | 0:1.12.2-14.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:krb5-devel | 0:1.12.2-14.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:krb5-libs | 0:1.12.2-14.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:krb5-pkinit | 0:1.12.2-14.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:krb5-pkinit-openssl | 0:1.10.3-37.el6_6 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:krb5-server | 0:1.12.2-14.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:krb5-server-ldap | 0:1.12.2-14.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:krb5-workstation | 0:1.12.2-14.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:krb5 | 1.12.1-9.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 | 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.
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
- Special conditions such as timing or configuration are required.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- P · data can be read
- Integrity
- P · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- C · the service can be disrupted
- Attack complexity
- High
- Confidentiality impact
- P
- Integrity impact
- P
- Availability impact
- C
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-284 · Improper Access ControlCVSS vector
AV:N/AC:H/Au:S/C:P/I:P/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)
- Embedding Scripts within ScriptsCAPEC-19likelihood: High · High
- Malicious Logic InsertionCAPEC-441likelihood: Medium · High
- Modification of Windows Service ConfigurationCAPEC-478likelihood: Low · High
- Malicious Root CertificateCAPEC-479likelihood: Low · Low
- Intent SpoofCAPEC-502
- WebView ExposureCAPEC-503
- Data Injected During ConfigurationCAPEC-536likelihood: Low · High
- Incomplete Data Deletion in a Multi-Tenant EnvironmentCAPEC-546likelihood: Low · Medium
ATT&CK techniques
- RootkitT1014
- Obfuscated Files or Information: Embedded PayloadsT1027.009
- Boot or Logon Initialization ScriptsT1037
- Taint shared contentT1080
- Server Software Component: Terminal Services DLLT1505.005
- Pre-OS Boot:BootkitT1542.003
- Create or Modify System ProcessT1543
- Create or Modify System Process: Launch AgentT1543.001
- Create or Modify System Process:Windows ServiceT1543.003
- Create or Modify System Process: Launch DaemonT1543.004
- Event Triggered Execution:Change Default File AssociationT1546.001
- Event Triggered Execution:.bash_profile and .bashrcT1546.004
- Event Triggered Execution: Accessibility FeaturesT1546.008
- Event Triggered Execution: Installer PackagesT1546.016
- Boot or Logon Autostart ExecutionT1547
- Boot or Logon Autostart Execution:Kernel Modules and ExtensionsT1547.006
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for all 385,000+ vulnerabilities; 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 helpChange log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2015-March/151103.html
- lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2015-March/151437.html
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2015-02/msg00011.html
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2015-02/msg00016.html
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2015-02/msg00044.html
- rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-0439.html
- rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-0794.html
- web.mit.edu/kerberos/advisories/2015-001-patch-r113.txt
- web.mit.edu/kerberos/advisories/MITKRB5-SA-2015-001.txt
- www.debian.org/security/2015/dsa-3153
- www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2015:069
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/72494
- www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2498-1
- github.com/krb5/krb5/commit/6609658db0799053fbef0d7d0aa2f1fd68ef32d8
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.