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CVE-2018-19788: A flaw was found in PolicyKit (aka polkit) 0.115 that allows a user with a uid greater than INT_MAX to succ...

A flaw was found in PolicyKit (aka polkit) 0.115 that allows a user with a uid greater than INT_MAX to successfully execute any systemctl command.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a local authorization flaw in PolicyKit/polkit 0.115. A user with an unusually large UID could run systemctl commands they should not be allowed to run, potentially changing system services. The source bundle shows vendor security advisories, but no CVSS score and no confirmed active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat this as a high-priority Linux platform maintenance issue for affected systems. It is not shown as actively exploited in the provided sources, but the impact involves unauthorized system service control by a local user under specific UID conditions.

Technical view

CVE-2018-19788 affects PolicyKit, also called polkit, 0.115. The described flaw permits a user whose UID is greater than INT_MAX to successfully execute any systemctl command. The provided sources do not include CWE, CVSS, exploit maturity, or complete affected-version ranges beyond that description.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most relevant on Linux systems using affected PolicyKit/polkit packages, especially systems with local users or externally managed identity mappings. The bundle cites Ubuntu, Debian, Red Hat, Gentoo, and NetApp advisories, but does not provide complete product/version coverage.

Exploitation context

The bundle does not support a claim of active exploitation; KEV is false. The vulnerability requires a local user condition involving a UID greater than INT_MAX. Successful abuse could affect system service management through systemctl, but the sources do not provide exploit details or prevalence data.

Researcher notes

Evidence is strongest for the core condition: polkit 0.115 mishandles users with UIDs greater than INT_MAX and permits systemctl command execution. The bundle lacks CVSS, CWE, detailed root cause, and precise downstream package ranges, so validation should stay tied to vendor advisories.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply the relevant vendor security update for PolicyKit, polkit, or policykit-1.
  • Use Ubuntu, Debian, Red Hat, Gentoo, or NetApp guidance where applicable.
  • Prioritize multi-user Linux systems and systems with external identity providers.
  • Review UID allocation practices for unusually large numeric UIDs.
  • If no vendor package is available, follow vendor guidance before applying compensating controls.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory installed PolicyKit, polkit, or policykit-1 package versions.
  • Check whether systems match the vendor advisories cited in the source bundle.
  • Identify local accounts or identity mappings with UIDs greater than INT_MAX.
  • Confirm patched package installation through normal package management records.
  • Review service-management authorization logs for unexpected systemctl activity by local users.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
12

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

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CVE-2018-19788 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
11Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/an/an/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.