The privilege-dropping implementation in the (1) pam_env and (2) pam_mail modules in Linux-PAM (aka pam) 1.1.2 does not check the return val
The privilege-dropping implementation in the (1) pam_env and (2) pam_mail modules in Linux-PAM (aka pam) 1.1.2 does not check the return value of the setfsuid system call, which might allow local users to obtain sensitive information by leveraging an unintended uid, as demonstrated by a symlink attack on the .pam_environment file in a user's home directory. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2010-3435.
- Published
- Jan 24, 2011
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 0.3% · 26th percentile
- CWE
- —
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Report tools
Action score
7
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 7 / 40 · 1.9 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 0 / 30 · 0.3%
Affected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| linux-pam | linux-pam | cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- linux-pam linux-pam1.1.2
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | pam | before 1.1.3-1 | 1.1.3-1 |
| openSUSE:Tumbleweed | pam | before 1.3.0-3.4 | 1.3.0-3.4 |
Same product
linux-pam: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2020-27780A flaw was found in Linux-Pam in versions prior to 1.5.1 in the way it handle empty passwords for non-existing users.40Plan
- CVE-2022-28321The Linux-PAM package before 1.5.2-6.1 for openSUSE Tumbleweed allows authentication bypass for SSH logins.39Monitor
- CVE-2010-4708The pam_env module in Linux-PAM (aka pam) 1.1.2 and earlier reads the .pam_environment file in a user's home directory, which might allow lo28Monitor
- CVE-2026-54411Linux-PAM pam_userdb Observable Timing Discrepancy in Plaintext Password Comparison27Monitor
- CVE-2015-3238The _unix_run_helper_binary function in the pam_unix module in Linux-PAM (aka pam) before 1.2.1, when unable to directly access passwords, a27Monitor
- CVE-2010-3853pam_namespace.c in the pam_namespace module in Linux-PAM (aka pam) before 1.1.3 uses the environment of the invoking application or service 27Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| debian:pam | 1.1.3-1 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:pam | 1.3.0-3.4 · openSUSE:Tumbleweed | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
No dated events beyond publication.
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
No commit or PR link among the references.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
If successful
- Confidentiality
- P · data can be read
- Integrity
- none
- Availability
- none
- Attack complexity
- M
- Confidentiality impact
- P
- Integrity impact
- None
- Availability impact
- None
Weakness class (CWE)
—
CVSS vector
AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
MITRE has no CAPEC/ATT&CK mapping for this CWE.
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for all 385,000+ vulnerabilities; that wouldn't be honest. For notable, high-impact vulnerabilities our team writes the mechanism, detection and remediation steps.
We use this product, ask for helpChange log
- Fix✗ → ✓
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References
- git.altlinux.org/people/ldv/packages/?p=pam.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=843807a3a90f52e7538be756616510730a24739a
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/09/21/10
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/09/21/3
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/09/21/8
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/09/21/9
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/09/27/10
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/09/27/4
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/09/27/5
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/09/27/7
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/10/03/1
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/10/25/2
- secunia.com/advisories/49711
- security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-201206-31.xml
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/09/21/11
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/09/24/2
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=641361
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.