CVE-2019-7443: KDE KAuth before 5.55 allows the passing of parameters with arbitrary types to helpers running as root over DB

Q: How do I fix CVE-2019-7443?

kauth: upgrade to 5.55.0; leap: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; backports: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2019-7443 being exploited?

CVE-2019-7443 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-2019-7443 affect?

CVE-2019-7443 affects kauth, leap, backports. Severity is high (CVSS 8.1). KDE KAuth before 5.55 allows the passing of parameters with arbitrary types to helpers running as root over DBus via DBusHelperProxy.cpp. Certain types can cause crashes, and trigger the decoding of arbitrary images with dynamically loaded

Q: How urgent is CVE-2019-7443?

Priority 54/100. High severity; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

This month

HIGH 8.1REMOTEUPGRADEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2019-7443 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 8.1) affecting kauth, leap, backports. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

KDE KAuth before 5.55 allows the passing of parameters with arbitrary types to helpers running as root over DBus via DBusHelperProxy.cpp. Certain types can cause crashes, and trigger the decoding of arbitrary images with dynamically loaded plugins. In other words, KAuth unintentionally causes this plugin code to run as root, which increases the severity of any possible exploitation of a plugin vulnerability.

Why this priority

High severity
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	8.1 (High)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	High
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	2.4% (top 16%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-20
Published	2019-05-07
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: fedoraproject · kde · opensuse

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2019-05-07 19:29 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 02:40 UTCUpdated Record last modified

kde kauth UPGRADE

Affected: < 5.55.0

Fixed in: 5.55.0

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to 5.55.0 (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.

opensuse leap MITIGATE

Affected: 15.0 · 42.3

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 15.0

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.

opensuse backports 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 backports || rpm -q backports || backports --version

No fixed or unaffected release known

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

fedoraproject fedora MITIGATE

Affected: 28 · 29

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 28

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-2019-7443?

kauth: upgrade to 5.55.0; leap: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; backports: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2019-7443 being exploited?

CVE-2019-7443 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-2019-7443 affect?

CVE-2019-7443 affects kauth, leap, backports. Severity is high (CVSS 8.1). KDE KAuth before 5.55 allows the passing of parameters with arbitrary types to helpers running as root over DBus via DBusHelperProxy.cpp. Certain types can cause crashes, and trigger the decoding of arbitrary images with dynamically loaded

How urgent is CVE-2019-7443?

Priority 54/100. High severity; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

Related CVEs

CVE-2017-8422 HIGH 7.8 UPGRADE UPGRADE KDE kdelibs before 4.14.32 and KAuth before 5.34 allow local users to gain root privileges by spoofing a calle
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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