CVE-2026-48981: pam_usb: xmlReadFile flags=0 permits XXE network entity fetching in conf.c
pamusb provides hardware authentication for Linux using ordinary removable media. In versions prior to 0.9.2, pamusb calls xmlReadFile() with flags=0 when loading the configuration file, allowing libxml2 to process external entity references (XXE), potentially making outbound network connections or local file reads at XML parse time from the context of the authenticating process. The vulnerability requires the configuration file to contain crafted XML entity references. Since pamusb.conf is root-owned, direct exploitation requires prior write access to the config, but the defence-in-depth impact is significant given that pamusb.so runs in setuid contexts (sudo, su). This issue has been fixed in version 0.9.2.
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
pam_usbto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 0.9.2
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2026-48981?
The severity of CVE-2026-48981 is rated as medium with a score of 6.7.
How do I fix CVE-2026-48981?
To fix CVE-2026-48981, upgrade to pam_usb version 0.9.2 or later where the vulnerability is addressed.
What does CVE-2026-48981 affect?
CVE-2026-48981 affects pam_usb, which provides hardware authentication for Linux using removable media.
What type of attack does CVE-2026-48981 allow?
CVE-2026-48981 allows for XML External Entity (XXE) attacks, which can lead to outbound network connections.
What are the potential consequences of CVE-2026-48981?
The potential consequences of CVE-2026-48981 include data exposure and unauthorized access via XML parsing.