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CVE-2026-47270

pam_usb: strtok() race condition in multi-threaded PAM hosts can corrupt deny_remote result

Published: May 27, 2026Updated: May 27, 2026 Sources: CVE List NVD
6.3CVSS
MEDIUM

pam_usb provides hardware authentication for Linux using ordinary removable media. Prior to 0.9.0, pam_usb is a PAM module loaded into the host process (sudo, login, GDM, GNOME Shell). Display managers such as GDM run multiple concurrent authentication threads. Three functions used by the deny_remote feature called the non-reentrant strtok(), which stores state in a single global pointer. If two authentications race, one thread's strtok() call can overwrite the other's in-progress tokenisation pointer, causing incorrect parsing of the tmux session data or the /proc environ scan that backs the remote-session detection logic. Additionally, pusb_tmux_get_client_tty() passed the raw pointer returned by getenv(TMUX) directly to strtok(). getenv() returns a pointer into the live process environment block; strtok() inserts NUL bytes into that block, permanently corrupting the TMUX variable for subsequent code running in the same process. In long-lived display managers this affects all future authentications in that process. The combined effect can cause deny_remote=true to return an incorrect decision for a remote session, or an incorrect decision for a local session, depending on thread interleaving. This vulnerability is fixed in 0.9.0.

EPSS Score
N/A
CISA KEV
Not in KEV
Exploits
No Known Exploits
Remediation
No Fix Available

CVSS Vector Breakdown

AV:LAC:HPR:LUI:NS:UC:HI:HA:N
Exploitability
AV:LAttack Vector
Local
AC:HAttack Complexity
High
PR:LPrivileges Required
Low
UI:NUser Interaction
None
Scope
S:UScope
Unchanged
Impact
C:HConfidentiality
High
I:HIntegrity
High
A:NAvailability
None

Weaknesses

Affected Products

pam_usb
mcdope

Attack Graph

Products CVE Techniques Tactics

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Exploitability

No known exploits, KEV entries, or remediation guidance available for this vulnerability yet.

MITRE ATT&CK

1 technique
Privilege Escalation
View detailed technique mapping

References

Timeline

Published
May 27, 2026
Last Updated
May 27, 2026

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