Security assessments indicate that CVE-2026-48066 presents a notable risk, potentially requiring prompt mitigation.
Status: Deferred
Last updated: 🕜 28 May 2026, 13:57 UTC
Originally published on: 🕗 27 May 2026, 20:16 UTC
CVSS Release: version 3
security-advisories@github.com
Secondary
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H
CVE-2026-48066: pam_usb provides hardware authentication for Linux using ordinary removable media. Prior to 0.9.1, src/log.c contains a process-wide static pointer that is written on every PAM invocation with the address of a stack-local variable. This violates the PAM re-entrancy requirement and creates a data race when the PAM stack is invoked concurrently from multiple threads. This vulnerability is fixed in 0.9.1.
The exploitability of CVE-2026-48066 depends on two key factors: attack complexity (the level of effort required to execute an exploit) and privileges required (the access level an attacker needs).
CVE-2026-48066 presents a challenge to exploit due to its high attack complexity, but the absence of privilege requirements still makes it a viable target for skilled attackers. A thorough security review is advised.
A lower complexity and fewer privilege requirements make exploitation easier. Security teams should evaluate these aspects to determine the urgency of mitigation strategies, such as patch management and access control policies.
Attack Complexity (AC) measures the difficulty in executing an exploit. A high AC means that specific conditions must be met, making an attack more challenging, while a low AC means the vulnerability can be exploited with minimal effort.
Privileges Required (PR) determine the level of system access necessary for an attack. Vulnerabilities requiring no privileges are more accessible to attackers, whereas high privilege requirements limit exploitation to authorized users with elevated access.
Above is the CVSS Sub-score Breakdown for CVE-2026-48066, illustrating how Base, Impact, and Exploitability factors combine to form the overall severity rating. A higher sub-score typically indicates a more severe or easier-to-exploit vulnerability.
Below is the Impact Analysis for CVE-2026-48066, showing how Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability might be affected if the vulnerability is exploited. Higher values usually signal greater potential damage.
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