CVE-2014-5033: KDE kdelibs before 4.14 and kauth before 5.1 does not properly use D-Bus for communication with a polkit autho

Q: How do I fix CVE-2014-5033?

kde4libs: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; ubuntu linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; kauth: upgrade to newer than 5.0. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2014-5033 being exploited?

CVE-2014-5033 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2014-5033 affect?

CVE-2014-5033 affects kde4libs, ubuntu linux, kauth. Severity is medium (CVSS 6.9). KDE kdelibs before 4.14 and kauth before 5.1 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 conditi

Q: How urgent is CVE-2014-5033?

Priority 42/100. Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

This month

MEDIUM 6.9WATCHLISTMITIGATEMITIGATEUPGRADE

CVE-2014-5033 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 6.9) affecting kde4libs, ubuntu linux, kauth. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

KDE kdelibs before 4.14 and kauth before 5.1 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, related to CVE-2013-4288 and "PID reuse race conditions."

Why this priority

Public exploit reference
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	6.9 (Medium)
EPSS exploit chance	0.4% (top 70%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-362
Published	2014-08-19
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: canonical · debian · kde

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2014-08-19 18:55 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 00:10 UTCUpdated Record last modified

debian kde4libs MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy kde4libs || rpm -q kde4libs || kde4libs --version

No fixed or unaffected release known

Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory, disable the affected feature, or restrict network access.

canonical ubuntu linux MITIGATE

Affected: 12.04 · 14.04

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.

kde kauth UPGRADE

Affected: <= 5.0

Fixed in: newer than 5.0

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy kauth || rpm -q kauth || kauth --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 5.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade kauth

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade kauth

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

kde kdelibs UPGRADE

Affected: <= 4.13.97 · 4.10.0 · 4.10.1 · 4.10.2 · 4.10.3 · 4.10.95 · 4.10.97 · 4.11.0

Fixed in: newer than 4.13.97

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy kdelibs || rpm -q kdelibs || kdelibs --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 4.13.97 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade kdelibs

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade kdelibs

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

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-2014-5033?

kde4libs: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; ubuntu linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; kauth: upgrade to newer than 5.0. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2014-5033 being exploited?

CVE-2014-5033 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-2014-5033 affect?

CVE-2014-5033 affects kde4libs, ubuntu linux, kauth. Severity is medium (CVSS 6.9). KDE kdelibs before 4.14 and kauth before 5.1 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 conditi

How urgent is CVE-2014-5033?

Priority 42/100. Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

Software pages

Ubuntu vulnerabilities · Debian vulnerabilities

References

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