CVE-2025-12744
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows unprivileged local users to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges by exploiting improper input validation in the ABRT daemon. Attackers can inject shell metacharacters into mount information, which gets passed directly to a shell command. Systems running ABRT with default configurations are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- ABRT (Automatic Bug Reporting Tool)
⚠️ Manual Verification Required
This CVE does not have specific version information in our database, so automatic vulnerability detection cannot determine if your system is affected.
Why? The CVE database entry doesn't specify which versions are vulnerable (no version ranges provided by the vendor/NVD).
🔒 Custom verification scripts are available for registered users. Sign up free to download automated test scripts.
- Review the CVE details at NVD
- Check vendor security advisories for your specific version
- Test if the vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
- Consider updating to the latest version as a precaution
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Full root privilege escalation leading to complete system compromise, data theft, persistence establishment, and lateral movement within the environment.
Likely Case
Local privilege escalation allowing attackers to gain root access on affected systems, potentially leading to credential harvesting, backdoor installation, and further network exploitation.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if ABRT is disabled or proper access controls prevent local user access to vulnerable systems.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local access but is straightforward once the vulnerability details are understood. The 12-character limit may constrain payloads but doesn't prevent exploitation.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Check Red Hat Security Advisory for specific fixed versions
Vendor Advisory: https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2025-12744
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check vendor advisory for specific patch versions. 2. Update ABRT package using system package manager (yum update abrt or dnf update abrt). 3. Restart ABRT service (systemctl restart abrtd). 4. Verify the fix is applied.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable ABRT Service
linuxTemporarily disable the ABRT daemon to prevent exploitation
systemctl stop abrtd
systemctl disable abrtd
Restrict ABRT Access
linuxConfigure SELinux or AppArmor to restrict ABRT's capabilities
setsebool -P abrt_anon_write off
semanage permissive -d abrt_t
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable ABRT service completely on affected systems
- Implement strict access controls to prevent local user access to vulnerable systems
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check ABRT version: rpm -q abrt and compare against vendor's vulnerable version listCheck Version:
rpm -q abrt --queryformat '%{VERSION}-%{RELEASE}\n'Verify Fix Applied:
Verify updated version is installed and test that shell metacharacters in mount information no longer execute commands📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual ABRT process activity
- Suspicious docker inspect commands from ABRT
- Privilege escalation attempts in system logs
Network Indicators:
- None - this is a local exploit
SIEM Query:
process.name:"abrtd" AND cmdline:"docker inspect" AND cmdline:*[metacharacters]*