CVE-2013-1061: dbus/SoftwarePropertiesDBus.py in Software Properties 0.92.17 before 0.92.17.3, 0.92.9 before 0.92.9.3, and 0.

Routine

MEDIUM 4.6WATCHLISTDOWNGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2013-1061 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 4.6) affecting software-properties, ubuntu linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

dbus/SoftwarePropertiesDBus.py in Software Properties 0.92.17 before 0.92.17.3, 0.92.9 before 0.92.9.3, and 0.82.7 before 0.82.7.5 does not properly use D-Bus for communication with a polkit authority, which allows local users to bypass intended access restrictions by leveraging a PolkitUnixProcess PolkitSubject race condition via a (1) setuid process or (2) pkexec process, a related issue to CVE-2013-4288.

Why this priority

On your watchlist

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	4.6 (Medium)
EPSS exploit chance	0.4% (top 70%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-264
Published	2013-10-03
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): Canonical Ltd. · Vendor: canonical · marc deslauriers

Last updated 2026-06-16 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2013-10-03 21:55 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 23:50 UTCUpdated Record last modified

marc deslauriers software-properties DOWNGRADE

Affected: 0.82.7 · 0.82.7.1 · 0.82.7.2 · 0.82.7.3 · 0.82.7.4 · 0.92.9 · 0.92.9.1 · 0.92.9.2

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 0.82.7

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy software-properties || rpm -q software-properties || software-properties --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 0.82.7 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison software-properties sudo apt install software-properties=<VERSION_BEFORE_0.82.7> sudo apt-mark hold software-properties

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list software-properties sudo dnf downgrade software-properties-<VERSION_BEFORE_0.82.7> sudo dnf versionlock add software-properties

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

canonical ubuntu linux MITIGATE

Affected: 12.04 · 12.10 · 13.04

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 12.04

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2013-1061?

software-properties: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; ubuntu linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2013-1061 being exploited?

CVE-2013-1061 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2013-1061 affect?

CVE-2013-1061 affects software-properties, ubuntu linux. Severity is medium (CVSS 4.6). dbus/SoftwarePropertiesDBus.py in Software Properties 0.92.17 before 0.92.17.3, 0.92.9 before 0.92.9.3, and 0.82.7 before 0.82.7.5 does not properly use D-Bus for communication with a polkit authority, which allows local users to bypass int

How urgent is CVE-2013-1061?

Priority 29/100. On your watchlist

Software pages

Ubuntu vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2012-0955 MEDIUM 6.8 UPGRADE software-properties was vulnerable to a person-in-the-middle attack due to incorrect TLS certificate validatio
CVE-2011-4407 MEDIUM 4.3 UPGRADE MITIGATE ppa.py in Software Properties before 0.81.13.3 does not validate the server certificate when downloading PPA G

References

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