CVE-2026-44711 PUBLISHED

pam_usb: Symlink attacks on pad directory and pad files enable authentication bypass and root file corruption

Assigner: GitHub_M
Reserved: 07.05.2026 Published: 27.05.2026 Updated: 28.05.2026

pam_usb provides hardware authentication for Linux using ordinary removable media. Prior to 0.8.7, symlink attacks on pad directory and pad files enable authentication bypass and root file corruption. This vulnerability is fixed in 0.8.7.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:H
CVSS Score: 7.9

Attack Vector	Local	Scope	Changed
Attack Complexity	Low	Confidentiality Impact	None
Privileges Required	Low	Integrity Impact	High
User Interaction	Required	Availability Impact	High

CVSS 3.1

Product Status

Vendor	mcdope
Product	pam_usb
Versions	Version < 0.8.7 is affected

References

https://github.com/mcdope/pam_usb/security/advisories/GHSA-fjpm-p9pj-mp34

Problem Types

CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following') CWE
CWE-287: Improper Authentication CWE