CVE-2019-3842
CVSS v3
7
HIGH
EPSS Score
1.2 %
exploit probability, as of 2026-09-25
CISA KEV
No
known exploited
Exploitation
—
SSVC status
Description
In systemd before v242-rc4, it was discovered that pam_systemd does not properly sanitize the environment before using the XDG_SEAT variable. It is possible for an attacker, in some particular configurations, to set a XDG_SEAT environment variable which allows for commands to be checked against polkit policies using the "allow_active" element rather than "allow_any".
Technical details
- Published
- 2019-04-09
- Exploit-DB
- EDB-46743
Frequently asked questions
What is CVE-2019-3842?
In systemd before v242-rc4, it was discovered that pam_systemd does not properly sanitize the environment before using the XDG_SEAT variable. It is possible for an attacker, in some particular configurations, to set a XDG_SEAT environment variable which allows for commands to be checked against polkit policies using the "allow_active" element rather than "allow_any".
Is CVE-2019-3842 actively exploited?
Active exploitation of CVE-2019-3842 has not been confirmed. Its EPSS score was 1.2% on 2026-09-25, the estimated probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What is the CVSS score for CVE-2019-3842?
CVE-2019-3842 has a CVSS v3 base score of 7 (HIGH severity).
Is CVE-2019-3842 affecting your environment?
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