CVE-2021-4034
HighExploitedPublic exploitpolicykit-1 - security update
Published Feb 18, 2022 · Updated Aug 17, 2026 · Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2021-4034, DLA-2899-1, DSA-5059-1, Pwn Kit, PwnKit, SUSE-SU-2022:0189-1, SUSE-SU-2022:0190-1, SUSE-SU-2022:0191-1, TR-22-0091, TR-22-0158, UBUNTU-CVE-2021-4034, USN-5252-1, USN-5252-2
Key Facts
Patch immediately- CVE-2021-4034 is a high-severity vulnerability (CVSS 7.8 v3.1) affecting HTTP Server (Oracle), Zfs Storage Appliance Kit (Oracle), Polkit (Polkit Project) and 22 more products.
- It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Jun 7, 2022 and is known to be used in ransomware campaigns. Public exploit code is available.
- EPSS estimates a 95% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- Fixed versions are available, including libpolkit-agent-1-0 0.120-2.1, libpolkit-agent-1-0-32bit 0.120-2.1, libpolkit-gobject-1-0 0.120-2.1.
- Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.
CVSS v3.1
7.8
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)
95%
Higher than 99.8% of all scored CVEs
Exploited in the wild
Yes
4 catalog listings, used by ransomware
Public exploit code
Available
Proof-of-concept or weaponized module
Get the full CVE-2021-4034 brief as a PDF
Every affected product and fixed release, exploitation status and a first 24 hours response checklist, emailed within minutes.
Description
A local privilege escalation vulnerability was found on polkit's pkexec utility. The pkexec application is a setuid tool designed to allow unprivileged users to run commands as privileged users according predefined policies. The current version of pkexec doesn't handle the calling parameters count correctly and ends trying to execute environment variables as commands. An attacker can leverage this by crafting environment variables in such a way it'll induce pkexec to execute arbitrary code. When successfully executed the attack can cause a local privilege escalation given unprivileged users administrative rights on the target machine.
Known-Exploited Catalog Listings
| Catalog | Added | Remediation due | Ransomware use |
|---|---|---|---|
| CISA KEV | Jun 27, 2022 | Jul 18, 2022 | Known |
| Industry KEV feed | Jun 7, 2022 | Jul 18, 2022 | Known |
| CIRCL KEV | Jun 27, 2022 | Jul 18, 2022 | Not reported |
| ENISA EUVD | Jun 27, 2022 | n/a | Not reported |
Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Affected Products
305 affected entries in total| Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| HTTP ServerOracle | 12.2.1.3.0, 12.2.1.4.0 | n/a |
| Zfs Storage Appliance KitOracle | 8.8 | n/a |
| PolkitPolkit Project | >= all | 121 |
| Enterprise Linux Server Update Services For Sap SolutionsRedhat | 7.6, 7.7, 8.1, 8.2, 8.4 | n/a |
| Sinumerik EdgeSiemens | See advisory | 3.3.0 |
Patched Releases
libpolkit-agent-1-0
0.120-2.1
libpolkit-agent-1-0-32bit
0.120-2.1
libpolkit-gobject-1-0
0.120-2.1
libpolkit-gobject-1-0-32bit
0.120-2.1
libpolkit0
0.113-5.24.1, 0.114-3.15.1, 0.116-3.6.1
libpolkit0-32bit
0.113-5.24.1, 0.116-3.6.1
policykit-1
0.105-14.1ubuntu0.5+esm1, 0.105-18+deb9u2, 0.105-20ubuntu0.18.04.6, 0.105-25+deb10u1, 0.105-26ubuntu1.2, 0.105-31.1, 0.105-31+deb11u1, 0.105-31ubuntu1, 0.105-4ubuntu3.14.04.6+esm1
Polkit
0:0.112-22.el7_7.2, 0:0.115-9.el8_1.2, 0:0.96-11.el6_10.2, 0.112-26.0.1.el7_9.1, 0.112-26.amzn2.1, 0.113-5.24.1, 0.113-6.ph1, 0.113-7.ph2, 0.114-3.15.1, 0.115-13.0.1.el8_5.1, 0.115-13.el8_5.1, 0.115-13.el8_5.2, 0.116-3.6.1, 0.116-3.ph3, 0.116-6, 0.117-10.amzn2022.0.2, 0.117-10.amzn2023.0.3, 0.117-3.amzn2022.2, 0.119-2, 0.119-r8, 0.120-2.1, 0.120-2.ph4, 0.120-5, 0.120-r2, 0.96-11.0.1.el6_10.1, NA, 121
polkit-desktop-policy
0.96-11.0.1.el6_10.1
polkit-devel
0.112-26.0.1.el7_9.1, 0.112-26.amzn2.1, 0.113-5.24.1, 0.114-3.15.1, 0.115-13.0.1.el8_5.1, 0.116-3.6.1, 0.117-10.amzn2022.0.2, 0.117-10.amzn2023.0.3, 0.117-3.amzn2022.2, 0.120-2.1, 0.120-2.ph4, 0.96-11.0.1.el6_10.1, NA
polkit-doc
0.116-3.6.1, 0.120-2.1
polkit-docs
0.112-26.0.1.el7_9.1, 0.112-26.amzn2.1, 0.115-13.0.1.el8_5.1, 0.117-10.amzn2022.0.2, 0.117-10.amzn2023.0.3, 0.117-3.amzn2022.2, 0.96-11.0.1.el6_10.1
polkit-libs
0.115-13.0.1.el8_5.1, 0.117-10.amzn2022.0.2, 0.117-10.amzn2023.0.3, 0.117-3.amzn2022.2
redhat-virtualization-host
0:4.3.21-20220126.0.el7_9, 0:4.4.10-202202081536_8.5
siemens scalance lpe9403 firmware
2.0
Sinumerik Edge
3.3.0
typelib-1_0-Polkit-1_0
0.113-5.24.1, 0.114-3.15.1, 0.116-3.6.1, 0.120-2.1
Timeline
Publicly disclosed
Feb 18, 2022
Added to Industry KEV feed
Jun 7, 2022
Added to CISA KEV
Jun 27, 2022
Added to CIRCL KEV
Jun 27, 2022
Added to ENISA EUVD
Jun 27, 2022
Last updated
Aug 17, 2026
Weakness Type
- CWE-125 Out-of-bounds Read
- CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write
References
- advisoryhttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/166200/Polkit-pkexec-Privilege-Escalation.html
- advisoryRHSA-2022:0265
- advisoryRHSA-2022:0266
- advisoryRHSA-2022:0267
- advisoryRHSA-2022:0268
FAQ
Common Questions.
A local privilege escalation vulnerability was found on polkit's pkexec utility.
Affected: HTTP Server (Oracle) versions 12.2.1.3.0, 12.2.1.4.0; Zfs Storage Appliance Kit (Oracle) versions 8.8; Polkit (Polkit Project) versions >= all, among others. The full list is in the CVE brief.
It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Jun 7, 2022 and is known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
Yes. It was added on Jun 27, 2022 with a federal remediation due date of Jul 18, 2022.
Public exploit code is available.
Fixed versions are available, including libpolkit-agent-1-0 0.120-2.1, libpolkit-agent-1-0-32bit 0.120-2.1, libpolkit-gobject-1-0 0.120-2.1.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.
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