New authd users logging in via SSH are members of the root group in github.com/ubuntu/authd
New authd users logging in via SSH are members of the root group in github.com/ubuntu/authd
02 / AFFECTED SOFTWARE
Affected packages
9 explicit affected versions
03 / CONNECTIONS
Connected vulnerabilities
04 / EVIDENCE
Source records
A flaw was found in the temporary user record that authd uses in the pre-auth NSS. As a result, a user login for the first time will be considered to be part of the root group in the context of that SSH session.
New authd users logging in via SSH are members of the root group in github.com/ubuntu/authd
### Impact When an authd user logs in via SSH for the first time (meaning they do not yet exist in the authd user database) and successfully authenticates via the configured broker, the user is considered a member of the root group in the context of that SSH session. This situation may allow the user to read and write files that are accessible by the root group, to which they should not have access. The user does not get root privileges or any capabilities beyond the access granted to the root group. **Preconditions under which this vulnerability affects a system** * authd was [installed via the PPA](https://documentation.ubuntu.com/authd/latest/howto/install-authd/#install-authd). * An OAuth 2.0 application was registered in Microsoft Entra ID or Google IAM, and the respective authd broker was installed ([authd-msentraid](https://snapcraft.io/authd-msentraid) or [authd-google](https://snapcraft.io/authd-google)) and [configured](https://documentation.ubuntu.com/authd/latest/howto/configure-authd/#broker-configuration). * sshd was [configured to enable SSH](https://documentation.ubuntu.com/authd/latest/howto/login-ssh/) access with authd, i.e.: ``` UsePAM yes KbdInteractiveAuthentication yes ``` * The username is allowed by the `ssh_allowed_suffixes` option in the [broker configuriation](https://documentation.ubuntu.com/authd/latest/howto/login-ssh/#broker-configuration). * The user is allowed by the [`allowed_users` option in the broker configuration](https://documentation.ubuntu.com/authd/latest/howto/configure-authd/#configure-allowed-users). * The user successfully authenticates via the authd broker (Entra ID or Google IAM). * The user did not log in locally before. ### Patches Fixed by https://github.com/ubuntu/authd/commit/619ce8e55953b970f1765ddaad565081538151ab ### Workarounds Configure the SSH server to not allow authenticating via authd, for example by setting `UsePAM no` or `KbdInteractiveAuthentication no` in the `sshd_config` (see https://documentation.ubuntu.com/authd/stable/howto/login-ssh/#ssh-configuration).
05 / REFERENCES
Further evidence
- https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2025/5xxx/CVE-2025-5689.json
- https://github.com/ubuntu/authd/security/advisories/GHSA-g8qw-mgjx-rwjr
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-5689
- https://github.com/ubuntu/authd/commit/619ce8e55953b970f1765ddaad565081538151ab
- https://github.com/ubuntu/authd