CVE-2012-1053

CVE-2012-1053 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Puppet with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 6.9. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-264.

Key facts

• Severity: Medium (CVSS 2.0 base score 6.9)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (30th percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-264
• Affected product: Puppet
• Published: 2012-05-29
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

The change_user method in the SUIDManager (lib/puppet/util/suidmanager.rb) in Puppet 2.6.x before 2.6.14 and 2.7.x before 2.7.11, and Puppet Enterprise (PE) Users 1.0, 1.1, 1.2.x, 2.0.x before 2.0.3 does not properly manage group privileges, which allows local users to gain privileges via vectors related to (1) the change_user not dropping supplementary groups in certain conditions, (2) changes to the eguid without associated changes to the egid, or (3) the addition of the real gid to supplementary groups.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2012-1053?

The change_user method in the SUIDManager (lib/puppet/util/suidmanager.rb) in Puppet 2.6.x before 2.6.14 and 2.7.x before 2.7.11, and Puppet Enterprise (PE) Users 1.0, 1.1, 1.2.x, 2.0.x before 2.0.3 does not properly manage group privileges, which allows local users to gain privileges via vectors related to (1) the change_user not dropping supplementary groups in certain conditions, (2) changes to the eguid without associated changes to the egid, or (3) the addition of the real gid to supplementary groups.

How severe is CVE-2012-1053?

CVE-2012-1053 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 6.9, rated medium severity.

Is CVE-2012-1053 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (30th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2012-1053?

CVE-2012-1053 primarily affects Puppet. In total, 35 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2012-1053?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2012-1053 published?

CVE-2012-1053 was published on 2012-05-29 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2012-03/msg00003.html
• http://projects.puppetlabs.com/issues/12457
• http://projects.puppetlabs.com/issues/12458
• http://projects.puppetlabs.com/issues/12459
• http://projects.puppetlabs.com/projects/1/wiki/Release_Notes#2.6.14
• http://puppetlabs.com/security/cve/cve-2012-1053/
• http://secunia.com/advisories/48157
• http://secunia.com/advisories/48161
• http://secunia.com/advisories/48166
• http://secunia.com/advisories/48290
• http://ubuntu.com/usn/usn-1372-1
• http://www.debian.org/security/2012/dsa-2419
• http://www.osvdb.org/79495
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/52158
• https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/73445
• https://hermes.opensuse.org/messages/15087408

Affected products (35)

• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet:2.6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet:2.6.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet:2.6.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet:2.6.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet:2.6.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet:2.6.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet:2.6.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet:2.6.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet:2.6.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet:2.6.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet:2.6.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet:2.6.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet:2.6.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet:2.6.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet:2.7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet:2.7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet:2.7.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet:2.7.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet:2.7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet:2.7.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet:2.7.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet:2.7.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet:2.7.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppetlabs:puppet:2.7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppetlabs:puppet:2.7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet_enterprise:1.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet_enterprise:1.2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet_enterprise:1.2.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet_enterprise:1.2.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet_enterprise:1.2.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet_enterprise:2.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet_enterprise:2.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet_enterprise:2.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppetlabs:puppet_enterprise_users:1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppetlabs:puppet_enterprise_users:1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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