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IDProjectCategoryView StatusLast Update
0009963Kali LinuxKali Package Bugpublic2026-11-10 09:35
ReporterArkansas Assigned To 
PrioritynormalSeverityminorReproducibilityhave not tried
Status newResolutionopen 
Summary0009963: Kali-Xfce-LockScreen-Bypass
Description

Local screen lock bypass via Ctrl + Esc in xfce4-screensaver (Kali Linux / VirtualBox)

A consistent local screen lock bypass vulnerability found in xfce4-screensaver running inside an Oracle VM VirtualBox environment. The lock screen process crashes or drops focus, granting immediate access to the active user session without entering the correct password.

Environment details:

OS: Kali Linux amd64 (Kernel: 6.19.14-kali1-amd64)Desktop Environment: Xfce 4.20Screen Saver Package: xfce4-screensaver (Version: 4.20.2-1)Hypervisor: Oracle VM VirtualBox (Host OS: Windows)

Steps to reproduce:

Run Kali Linux inside VirtualBox (reproduced in both Windowed and Fullscreen modes).Launch a persistent CLI process in the background terminal (e.g., cmatrix).Lock the screen via the upper-right session menu (activating xfce4-screensaver).Intentionally type an incorrect password once to trigger the login failure state.Press Ctrl + Esc on the keyboard (reproduced by pressing it twice in rapid succession).

Expected result:

The lock screen should remain active and continue prompting for the correct password.

Actual result:

The xfce4-screensaver interface completely disappears, immediately returning the user to the active desktop session and the running terminal.

Activities

daniruiz

daniruiz

2026-11-10 09:01

administrator   ~0022170

I've tested this in a new clean Kali installation and older ones and I can't reproduce this

Arkansas

Arkansas

2026-11-10 09:28

reporter   ~0022171

Proof of Concept Video
https://files.catbox.moe/d4c1jt.mp4

daniruiz

daniruiz

2026-11-10 09:31

administrator   ~0022172

This bug should be reported to xfce4-screensaver upstream repository

Arkansas

Arkansas

2026-11-10 09:35

reporter   ~0022173

Thanks for your attention, okay, I'll reach out to the xfce4 specialists.

Issue History

Date Modified Username Field Change
2026-11-08 08:32 Arkansas New Issue
2026-11-10 09:01 daniruiz Note Added: 0022170
2026-11-10 09:28 Arkansas Note Added: 0022171
2026-11-10 09:31 daniruiz Note Added: 0022172
2026-11-10 09:35 Arkansas Note Added: 0022173