CVE-2026-48986
mediumpriority · track · 0EPSS 0.001 · 3 %ileEUEPSS · scored 2026-10-28
pam_usb provides hardware authentication for Linux using removable media. In pam_usb 0.9.1 and earlier, usb_get_process_parent_id() can cause an infinite loop DoS because it does not initialize *ppid on failure. In pusb_local_login(), the same variable is reused as input and output in a process-tree while loop; if /proc/<pid>/stat cannot be read (for example, when an ancestor process exits during authentication), the PID is not updated and the loop does not terminate. This hangs the authenticating process (such as sudo, sshd, or login) until it is forcibly terminated. This issue has been fixed in version 0.9.2.
cvss
Technical severity, 0–10. One row per scoring source.
base score 0–10 · higher = more severe · hover a vector to decode
ssvc
A stakeholder decision — act, attend, or track — from exploitation and impact.
weaknesses
The CWE weakness classes this flaw belongs to.
affected products (1)
Products and version ranges known to be affected.
also known as (2)
Other names and identifiers for this entity.
sources
Which sources assert this record, and when.
references (7)
External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.
- https://github.com/mcdope/pam_usb/releasesPatchcnnvd
- https://github.com/mcdope/pam_usb/releases/tag/0.9.2cnnvd
- https://github.com/mcdope/pam_usb/security/advisories/GHSA-h28h-9hc3-v595cnnvd
- https://github.com/mcdope/pam_usb/releases/tag/0.9.2enisa_euvd
- https://github.com/mcdope/pam_usb/security/advisories/GHSA-h28h-9hc3-v595enisa_euvd
- https://github.com/mcdope/pam_usb/releases/tag/0.9.2nvd
- https://github.com/mcdope/pam_usb/security/advisories/GHSA-h28h-9hc3-v595nvd
Attackers weaponise vulnerabilities like this against internet-exposed services. See what is exposed on your perimeter with a free passive scan.
Free scan