CVE-2013-4161: gksu-polkit-0.0.3-6.fc18 was reported as fixing the issue in CVE-2012-5617 but the patch was improperly applie

Routine

HIGH 7.8DOWNGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2013-4161 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.8) affecting gksu-polkit, fedora. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

gksu-polkit-0.0.3-6.fc18 was reported as fixing the issue in CVE-2012-5617 but the patch was improperly applied and it did not fixed the security issue.

Why this priority

High severity

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

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.8 (High)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	0.4% (top 70%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-269
Published	2019-12-31
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): Red Hat, Inc. · Vendor: fedoraproject · gksu-polkit project

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2019-12-31 19:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 23:56 UTCUpdated Record last modified

gksu-polkit project gksu-polkit DOWNGRADE

Affected: 0.0.3

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 0.0.3

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy gksu-polkit || rpm -q gksu-polkit || gksu-polkit --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 0.0.3 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison gksu-polkit sudo apt install gksu-polkit=<VERSION_BEFORE_0.0.3> sudo apt-mark hold gksu-polkit

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

dnf --showduplicates list gksu-polkit sudo dnf downgrade gksu-polkit-<VERSION_BEFORE_0.0.3> sudo dnf versionlock add gksu-polkit

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.

fedoraproject fedora MITIGATE

Affected: 18 · 19

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 18

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-2013-4161?

gksu-polkit: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; fedora: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2013-4161 being exploited?

CVE-2013-4161 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-2013-4161 affect?

CVE-2013-4161 affects gksu-polkit, fedora. Severity is high (CVSS 7.8). gksu-polkit-0.0.3-6.fc18 was reported as fixing the issue in CVE-2012-5617 but the patch was improperly applied and it did not fixed the security issue.

How urgent is CVE-2013-4161?

Priority 35/100. High severity

Related CVEs

CVE-2012-5617 HIGH 7.8 MITIGATE MITIGATE gksu-polkit: permissive PolicyKit policy configuration file allows privilege escalation
CVE-2011-0703 CRITICAL 9.8 UPGRADE MITIGATE In gksu-polkit before 0.0.3, the source file for xauth may contain arbitrary commands that may allow an attack

References

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