libuser before 0.56.13-8 and 0.60 before 0.60-7, as used in the userhelper program in the usermode package, directly modifies /etc/passwd, w
libuser before 0.56.13-8 and 0.60 before 0.60-7, as used in the userhelper program in the usermode package, directly modifies /etc/passwd, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (inconsistent file state) by causing an error during the modification. NOTE: this issue can be combined with CVE-2015-3245 to gain privileges.
- Published
- Aug 11, 2015
- Updated
- Aug 27, 2026
- EPSS
- 8.8% · 95th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-264
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Report tools
Action score
53
Plan
Add it to your regular patch cycle.
- CVSS
- 20 / 40 · 5.1 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 30 / 30 · Listed
- EPSS
- 3 / 30 · 8.8%
CISA SSVC decision
- Exploitation
- active
- Automatable
- no
- Technical impact
- total
Vulnrichment: CISA's decision-tree inputs.
Actively exploited in the wild
CISA added this to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Aug 26, 2026. That signals real attacks, not theory.
Remediation deadline for government agencies: Sep 9, 2026.
Affected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| redhat | enterprise linux | cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux |
| opensuse | opensuse | cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:opensuse |
| libuser project | libuser | cpe:2.3:a:libuser_project:libuser |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- libuser project libuserbefore 0.56.13-8
- libuser project libuser0.60 and later · before 0.60-7
- opensuse opensuse13.2
- redhat enterprise linux5.0
- redhat enterprise linux6.0
- redhat enterprise linux7.0
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | libuser | before 1:0.62~dfsg-0.1 | 1:0.62~dfsg-0.1 |
| Debian:7 | libuser | before 1:0.56.9.dfsg.1-1.2+deb7u1 | 1:0.56.9.dfsg.1-1.2+deb7u1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | libuser | before 0:0.56.13-8.el6_7 | 0:0.56.13-8.el6_7 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | libuser-debuginfo | before 0:0.56.13-8.el6_7 | 0:0.56.13-8.el6_7 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | libuser-devel | before 0:0.56.13-8.el6_7 | 0:0.56.13-8.el6_7 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | libuser-python | before 0:0.56.13-8.el6_7 | 0:0.56.13-8.el6_7 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | libuser | before 0:0.60-7.el7_1 | 0:0.60-7.el7_1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | libuser-debuginfo | before 0:0.60-7.el7_1 | 0:0.60-7.el7_1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | libuser-devel | before 0:0.60-7.el7_1 | 0:0.60-7.el7_1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | libuser-python | before 0:0.60-7.el7_1 | 0:0.60-7.el7_1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server | libuser | before 0:0.60-7.ael7b_1 | 0:0.60-7.ael7b_1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server | libuser-debuginfo | before 0:0.60-7.ael7b_1 | 0:0.60-7.ael7b_1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server | libuser-devel | before 0:0.60-7.ael7b_1 | 0:0.60-7.ael7b_1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server | libuser-python | before 0:0.60-7.ael7b_1 | 0:0.60-7.ael7b_1 |
Same product
redhat: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
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- CVE-2017-5456A mechanism to bypass file system access protections in the sandbox using the file system request constructor through an IPC message.40Plan
- CVE-2017-5428An integer overflow in "createImageBitmap()" was reported through the Pwn2Own contest.40Plan
- CVE-2021-20325Missing fixes for CVE-2021-40438 and CVE-2021-26691 in the versions of httpd, as shipped in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.5.0, causes a securit39Monitor
- CVE-2008-3844Certain Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 4 and 5 packages for OpenSSH, as signed in August 2008 using a legitimate Red Hat GPG key, contain a38Monitor
- CVE-2020-25661A Red Hat only CVE-2020-12351 regression issue was found in the way the Linux kernel's Bluetooth implementation handled L2CAP packets with A36Monitor
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:libuser | 1:0.62~dfsg-0.1 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:libuser | 0:0.56.13-8.el6_7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:libuser-debuginfo | 0:0.56.13-8.el6_7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:libuser-devel | 0:0.56.13-8.el6_7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:libuser-python | 0:0.56.13-8.el6_7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
Weaponized
A ready exploit tool or active in-the-wild use is known for this vulnerability. This should be your top priority.
Evidence
- Metasploit module ×1
- Exploit-DB entry ×3
- Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub ×1
Noroxi does not host or link to exploit code. Metasploit module names and Nuclei template ids are shown (names, not code); Exploit-DB entries and PoC repositories are given as counts only.
| Source | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Exploit-DB entry | dos | 2015-07-27 |
| Exploit-DB entry | local | 2018-05-16 |
| Exploit-DB entry | local | 2018-05-16 |
| Metasploit module | exploit/linux/local/libuser_roothelper_priv_escLibuser roothelper Privilege Escalationexploit | 2015-07-24 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:0 | 2026-08-27 |
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.
- Metasploit-18 d
- First PoC-15 d
- Published
- CISA KEV+4033 d
- TodaySep 30, 2026+4068 d
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
- Someone with local access to the system can trigger it.
- No account or password is required.
- No user action is required.
- Special conditions such as timing or configuration are required.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- none
- Integrity
- none
- Availability
- high · the service can be disrupted
- Attack vector
- Local
- Attack complexity
- High
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- None
- Integrity impact
- None
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-264 · Permissions, Privileges, and Access ControlsCVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
nvd-secondary
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✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2015-August/163044.html
- lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2015-July/162947.html
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2015-08/msg00000.html
- rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-1482.html
- rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-1483.html
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/76022
- www.securitytracker.com/id/1033040
- access.redhat.com/articles/1537873
- www.exploit-db.com/exploits/44633/
- blog.talosintelligence.com/uat-10147-chinese-speaking-adversary-integrates-agentic-ai-into-post-compromise-operations/
- www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2015-3246
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.