CVE-2026-44709 HIGH

CVE-2026-44709: pam_usb: PINENTRY_FALLBACK_APP environment variable allows arbitrary command execution

Vendor Mcdope
Product pam_usb
Weakness CWE-78
Published May 27, 2026
Last update June 2, 2026

CVSS base score

7.8/10
Attack vector Local
Attack complexity Low
Privileges required Low
User interaction None
Confidentiality High
Integrity High

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

What the vulnerability does

01Description

pam_usb provides hardware authentication for Linux using ordinary removable media. Prior to 0.8.7, pamusb-pinentry reads the PINENTRY_FALLBACK_APP environment variable and executes it directly without any validation. Any process that can set environment variables before pamusb-pinentry is invoked can point PINENTRY_FALLBACK_APP at an arbitrary binary or script and have it executed with the privileges of the pam_usb tool chain. This vulnerability is fixed in 0.8.7.

Key dates

02Disclosure timeline

May 27, 2026 CVE published
June 2, 2026 Record updated

Related vulnerabilities

04Related CVE