CVE-2021-34557
Publication date 10 June 2021
Last updated 26 August 2025
Ubuntu priority
Cvss 3 Severity Score
Description
XScreenSaver 5.45 can be bypassed if the machine has more than ten disconnectable video outputs. A buffer overflow in update_screen_layout() allows an attacker to bypass the standard screen lock authentication mechanism by crashing XScreenSaver. The attacker must physically disconnect many video outputs.
Status
| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
|---|---|---|
| xscreensaver | 25.10 questing |
Not affected
|
| 25.04 plucky |
Not affected
|
|
| 24.04 LTS noble |
Not affected
|
|
| 22.04 LTS jammy |
Needs evaluation
|
|
| 20.04 LTS focal |
Needs evaluation
|
|
| 18.04 LTS bionic |
Needs evaluation
|
|
| 16.04 LTS xenial |
Needs evaluation
|
|
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
Severity score breakdown
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Base score |
|
| Attack vector | Physical |
| Attack complexity | Low |
| Privileges required | None |
| User interaction | None |
| Scope | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality | None |
| Integrity impact | None |
| Availability impact | High |
| Vector | CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H |
References
Other references
- https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/06/05/1
- https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/06/05/2
- https://github.com/QubesOS/qubes-xscreensaver/blob/master/0001-Fix-updating-outputs-info.patch
- https://github.com/QubesOS/qubes-issues/issues/6595
- https://github.com/QubesOS/qubes-secpack/blob/master/QSBs/qsb-068-2021.txt
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-34557