CVE-2021-3560
Confirmed PUBLISHEDIt was found that polkit could be tricked into bypassing the credential checks for D-Bus requests, elevating the privileges of the requestor to the...
Recommended Action
Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.
At a Glance
It was found that polkit could be tricked into bypassing the credential checks for D-Bus requests, elevating the privileges of the requestor to the root user. This flaw could be used by an unprivileged local attacker to, for example, create a new local administrator. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to data confidentiality and integrity as well as system availability.
- CVE Published
- Feb 16, 2022
- Exploitation Reported
- May 12, 2023
- CVSS
- 7.8 High
- EPSS
- —
Affected Versions
| Vendor | Product | Version | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| n/a |
polkit
|
polkit 0.119 |
Affected |
CVE References
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi bugzilla.redhat.com · CVE Record https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1961710
- github.blog/2021-06-10-privilege-escalation-polkit-root-... github.blog · CVE Record https://github.blog/2021-06-10-privilege-escalation-polkit-root-on-li...
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/172836/polkit-Authentication-Bypass.html packetstormsecurity.com · CVE Record http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/172836/polkit-Authentication-Byp...
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/172846/Facebook-Fizz-Denial-Of-Service... packetstormsecurity.com · CVE Record http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/172846/Facebook-Fizz-Denial-Of-S...
Recommended Actions
- Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.
- Check enrichment artifacts for scanner coverage and available PoCs before rolling remediation validation.
- Use the Pro API to automate enrichment, telemetry, and workflow delivery for VM, SOC, and CTI pipelines.
Known Exploited Vulnerability Sources
Catalogues that list this CVE as a known exploited vulnerability.
Per-source evidence links for KEV attestations are available through the KEVIntel Pro API.
Learn about Pro API access| Source | Added |
|---|---|
| CISA First | 2023-05-12 00:00 UTC |
Scanner Artifacts
Nuclei and Metasploit references linked to this CVE.
| Scanner | Reference | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| Metasploit | https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/linux/local/polkit_dbus_auth_bypass.rb | Apr 28, 2025 |
Virtual Patch
Compensating WAF rules to help reduce exposure to this CVE. Rule content and deployable vendor exports are available with KEVIntel Enterprise.
KEVIntel does not currently have a virtual patch for this CVE. When available, KEVIntel virtual patches ship as deployable ModSecurity, Cloudflare, and AWS WAF rules.
Enterprise feature. Virtual patch rule content and deployable vendor exports (ModSecurity, Cloudflare, AWS WAF) are available to KEVIntel Enterprise users.
CVSS Scores
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
Exploitation Status
Exploited in the wild
Recorded 2023-05-12 00:00:00 UTC · CISA
Proof of concept available
Recorded 2021-06-12 05:22:35 UTC · GitHub
Weaknesses (CWE)
-
Incorrect Authorization
Scanner Integrations
| Scanner | Reference | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| Metasploit | https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/linux/local/polkit_dbus_auth_bypass.rb | Apr 28, 2025 |
Potential Proof of Concepts
These PoCs are unverified and could contain malware. Use at your own risk.
github · Created 2024-03-24 11:37:18 UTC · 2 stars
Part of my cybersecurity thesis consists in exploring and exploiting this vulnerability.
github · Created 2023-11-08 05:11:56 UTC · 2 stars
Exploitation of the CVE-2021-3560 polkit vulnerability
github · Created 2022-05-02 23:56:31 UTC · 8 stars
Exploit for CVE-2021-3560 (Polkit) - Local Privilege Escalation
github · Created 2022-04-30 05:53:45 UTC · 24 stars
PolicyKit CVE-2021-3560 Exploitation (Authentication Agent)
github · Created 2022-04-29 18:57:30 UTC · 116 stars
PolicyKit CVE-2021-3560 Exploit (Authentication Agent)
github · Created 2022-02-13 10:12:51 UTC · 5 stars
f4T1H's PoC script for CVE-2021-3560 Polkit D-Bus Privilege Escalation
github · Created 2022-02-02 17:08:24 UTC · 4 stars
Polkit Exploit (CVE-2021-3560), no download capabilty? Copy and paste it!
github · Created 2021-11-12 10:15:45 UTC · 0 stars
CVE-2021-3560 (Polkit - Local Privilege Escalation)
github · Created 2021-07-30 11:41:34 UTC · 10 stars
Polkit D-Bus Authentication Bypass Exploit
github · Created 2021-07-28 06:05:46 UTC · 2 stars
NYCY_homework_&_meeting
github · Created 2021-07-02 10:03:26 UTC · 2 stars
ubuntu new PrivEsc race condition vulnerability
github · Created 2021-06-29 20:47:16 UTC · 24 stars
github · Created 2021-06-14 20:08:20 UTC · 118 stars
github · Created 2021-06-12 05:22:35 UTC · 38 stars
a reliable C based exploit and writeup for CVE-2021-3560.
Timeline
Key exploitation, disclosure, scanner coverage, and KEV attestation events for this CVE.
-
15:02 UTC about 1 year ago15:02 UTC · about 1 year ago
Metasploit module available
Exploit module available
-
00:00 UTC about 3 years ago00:00 UTC · about 3 years ago
Added to CISA KEV
Listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
-
00:00 UTC over 4 years ago00:00 UTC · over 4 years ago
CVE published
Vulnerability disclosed publicly
-
05:22 UTC about 5 years ago05:22 UTC · about 5 years ago
Public PoC available
Public proof-of-concept code published
-
00:00 UTC about 5 years ago00:00 UTC · about 5 years ago
CVE ID reserved
Identifier reserved by the CNA
Automate This Intelligence with the Pro API
Confidence scoring, exploit status, sensor telemetry, PoCs, scanner integrations, mentions, and tags are available programmatically for VM, SOC, and CTI workflows.
Pro API Example
GET /api/v2/pro/kevs/CVE-2021-3560
{
"cve_id": "CVE-2021-3560",
"title": "It was found that polkit could be tricked into bypassing the credential check...",
"affected_vendor": "Linux",
"affected_product": "polkit",
"affected_versions": [
{ "vendor": "...", "product": "...", "status": "affected", "display_label": "..." }
],
"confidence": "Confirmed",
"cvss_score": 7.8,
"epss_score": null,
"exploit_status": {
"exploited_in_the_wild": true,
"active_exploitation_observed": false
},
"sensor_telemetry": { "...": "Pro API fields" },
"proof_of_concepts": [ "..." ],
"scanner_integrations": [ "..." ]
}