Automotive Grade Linux: Improper Privilege Management
CVE-2026-37525 is a high-severity improper privilege management vulnerability in Automotive Grade Linux from Linux Foundation, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected Automotive Grade Linux versions: 17.1.12 and earlier. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.14% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of Automotive Grade Linux you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux Foundation | Automotive Grade Linux | 17.1.12 and earlier | Not stated |
Version data comes from NVD's product matching. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (mitre.org).
Official description
AGL app-framework-binder (afb-daemon) through v19.90.0 contains a privilege escalation vulnerability in the supervision Do command. The on_supervision_call function in src/afb-supervision.c explicitly nullifies the request credentials by calling afb_context_change_cred(&xreq->context, NULL) before dispatching an attacker-controlled API call via xapi->itf->call(xapi->closure, xreq). The NULL propagation chain through afb-context.c:110 (context->credentials = afb_cred_addref(NULL)) and afb-cred.c:163 (returns NULL when cred is NULL) confirms that credentials are zeroed before the target API executes. The attacker controls both api and verb parameters via JSON input, allowing execution of any registered API with a NULL credential context. APIs that rely on context->credentials for authorization decisions may fail open when receiving NULL credentials, enabling privilege escalation. This vulnerability was introduced in commit abbb4599f0b921c6f434b6bd02bcfb277eecf745 on 2018-02-14.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Privilege Management
The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
- Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights to entities in a software system.
- Consider following the principle of separation of privilege. Require multiple conditions to be met before permitting access to a system resource.
More Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities (CWE-269)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Third-party and government advisories
- gist.github.com/sgInnora/8526eedcfd826d05ef1fc45d8f405643Third Party Advisory
Other vulnerabilities in Automotive Grade Linux
- 7.1 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
Recent Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
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