CVE-2017-8422: KDE kdelibs before 4.14.32 and KAuth before 5.34 allow local users to gain root privileges by spoofing a calle

Q: How do I fix CVE-2017-8422?

kauth: upgrade to newer than 5.33; kdelibs: upgrade to newer than 4.14.31. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2017-8422 being exploited?

CVE-2017-8422 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-2017-8422 affect?

CVE-2017-8422 affects kauth, kdelibs. Severity is high (CVSS 7.8). KDE kdelibs before 4.14.32 and KAuth before 5.34 allow local users to gain root privileges by spoofing a callerID and leveraging a privileged helper app.

Q: How urgent is CVE-2017-8422?

Priority 52/100. High severity; Public exploit reference

This month

HIGH 7.8UPGRADEUPGRADE

CVE-2017-8422 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.8) affecting kauth, kdelibs. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

KDE kdelibs before 4.14.32 and KAuth before 5.34 allow local users to gain root privileges by spoofing a callerID and leveraging a privileged helper app.

Why this priority

High severity
Public exploit reference

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.8 (High)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	1.8% (top 21%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-290
Published	2017-05-17
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: kde

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2017-05-17 14:29 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 01:26 UTCUpdated Record last modified

kde kauth UPGRADE

Affected: <= 5.33

Fixed in: newer than 5.33

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 5.33 (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: <= 4.14.31

Fixed in: newer than 4.14.31

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 4.14.31 (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.

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

Exploit-DB: KDE 4/5 - 'KAuth' Local Privilege Escalation

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-2017-8422?

kauth: upgrade to newer than 5.33; kdelibs: upgrade to newer than 4.14.31. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2017-8422 being exploited?

CVE-2017-8422 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-2017-8422 affect?

CVE-2017-8422 affects kauth, kdelibs. Severity is high (CVSS 7.8). KDE kdelibs before 4.14.32 and KAuth before 5.34 allow local users to gain root privileges by spoofing a callerID and leveraging a privileged helper app.

How urgent is CVE-2017-8422?

Priority 52/100. High severity; Public exploit reference

Related CVEs

CVE-2019-7443 HIGH 8.1 UPGRADE MITIGATE KDE KAuth before 5.55 allows the passing of parameters with arbitrary types to helpers running as root over DB
CVE-2014-5033 MEDIUM 6.9 MITIGATE MITIGATE KDE kdelibs before 4.14 and kauth before 5.1 does not properly use D-Bus for communication with a polkit autho

References

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