CVE-2026-48980

pam_usb: getenv() used in PAM context allows environment variable injection into local-check logic

MEDIUM
6.3
CVSS Score
Published: June 18, 2026 at 07:26 PM UTC
Updated: October 25, 2026 at 11:10 PM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorPam USB

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Severity
MEDIUM6.3
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.2%
SSVC
No known exploit

Description

pam_usb provides hardware authentication for Linux using removable media. In versions prior to 0.9.2, getenv() environment variables XRDP_SESSION, DISPLAY and TMUX allow environment variable injection into local-check logic. These environment variables influence whether a current session is local or remote, and a PAM module that runs in the context of setuid binaries (sudo, su), getenv() returns attacker-controlled values whenever the process environment has been manipulated by a local user. This issue has been fixed in version 0.9.2.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

v < 0.9.2
Affected range stops below 0.9.2, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet, and no fixed version or vendor advisory is recorded against it.

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitNot automatableTotal impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

6.3MEDIUMGitHub_M
Attack Vector
LOCAL
Complexity
HIGH
Privileges
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
HIGH
Integrity
HIGH
Availability
NONE
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusDEFERRED
CWE
CWE-454CWE-807

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