# CVE-2024-9312: Authd allows attacker-controlled usernames to yield controllable UIDs

> A local attacker can spoof user IDs due to insufficient randomization in Authd, allowing them to gain another user's privileges.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 10 Oct 2024
- **Updated:** 10 Oct 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-4gfw-wf7c-w6g2, GO-2024-3188

## What is CVE-2024-9312?

CVE-2024-9312 is a high-severity vulnerability in Canonical Ltd. Authd, published on 10 Oct 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Authd, through version 0.3.6, did not sufficiently randomize user IDs to prevent collisions. A local attacker who can register user names could spoof another user's ID and gain their privileges.

Weakness: CWE-335 (Incorrect Usage of Seeds in Pseudo-Random Number Generator (PRNG)), CWE-286 (Incorrect User Management)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-9312?

3 open source packages ship an affected version, including github.com/ubuntu/authd. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `github.com/ubuntu/authd` | Go | All versions to 0.0.0-20230706090440-d8cb2d561419 | None |
| `github.com/ubuntu/authd` | Go | All versions to 0.0.0-20230706090440-d8cb2d561419 | None |
| `github.com/ubuntu/authd` | Go | All versions | 0.3.6 |

Products: Canonical Authd.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-9312?

Upgrade github.com/ubuntu/authd to 0.3.6 or later.

## Is CVE-2024-9312 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-9312 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Canonical Ltd. Authd

- [CVE-2024-9313](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-9313/): PAM module may allow accessing with the credentials of another user (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2025-5689](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-5689/): Improper Permission Management in SSH Session Handling (high 8.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2024-9312 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-9312 is a high-severity vulnerability in Canonical Ltd. Authd, published on 10 Oct 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2024-9312 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- github.com/ubuntu/authd (Go): affected all versions up to 0.0.0-20230706090440-d8cb2d561419; no fix listed
- github.com/ubuntu/authd (Go): affected all versions up to 0.0.0-20230706090440-d8cb2d561419; no fix listed
- github.com/ubuntu/authd (Go): affected all versions; fixed in 0.3.6

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-9312/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-9312/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-9312
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-9312
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-9312

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-9312/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.