pam-auth-update for PAM, as used in Ubuntu 8.10 and 9.4, and Debian GNU/Linux, does not properly handle an "empty selection" for system authentication modules in certain rare configurations, which causes any attempt to be successful and allows remote attackers to bypass authentication
Published Sep 17, 2009
9.3
HIGHCVSS 2.0
EPSS 4.61%
Description
pam-auth-update for PAM, as used in Ubuntu 8.10 and 9.4, and Debian GNU/Linux, does not properly handle an "empty selection" for system authentication modules in certain rare configurations, which causes any attempt to be successful and allows remote attackers to bypass authentication.
Affected products
No data.
- 8.10
- 9.04
No data.
No Red Hat product state for this CVE.
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
No remediation recorded yet.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v3.1 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v3.0 score for this CVE.
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
This CVE is not in the KEV list.
No CISA SSVC assessment for this CVE yet.
Estimated probability of exploitation in the wild in the next 30 days (FIRST EPSS). As of Oct 1, 2026.
Score over time
2022–2026- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Percentile over time
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Table of values (10 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 4.61% (0.04613) | 91.39th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 4.61% (0.04613) | 90.46th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 0.59% (0.00594) | 67.42th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 0.89% (0.00889) | 83.30th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Feb 14, 2024 | 0.89% (0.00889) | 82.07th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 2.59% (0.02590) | 88.61th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 1.32% (0.01319) | 71.27th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 23, 2023 | 1.32% (0.01319) | 71.23th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | 1.32% (0.01319) | 69.22th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 1.32% (0.01319) | 44.98th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
References (6)
- http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=519927 x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingMailing List
- http://secunia.com/advisories/36620 third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIABroken LinkVendor Advisory
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/09/08/7 mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing List
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/36306 vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDBroken LinkPatchThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- https://launchpad.net/bugs/410171 x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingPatch
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/828-1/ vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTUBroken Link
| Link | Providers | Tags |
|---|---|---|
| http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=519927 | x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingMailing List | |
| http://secunia.com/advisories/36620 | third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIABroken LinkVendor Advisory | |
| http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2009/09/08/7 | mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing List | |
| http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/36306 | vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDBroken LinkPatchThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry | |
| https://launchpad.net/bugs/410171 | x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingPatch | |
| https://usn.ubuntu.com/828-1/ | vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTUBroken Link |
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.