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.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | pam | 1.0.1-10 | — |
| Debian 13 | pam | 1.0.1-10 | — |
| Debian 12 | pam | 1.0.1-10 | — |
References
- http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=519927
- https://launchpad.net/bugs/410171
- 36620 third-party-advisory
- [oss-security] 20090908 CVE request - Debian/Ubuntu PAM auth module selection mailing-list
- 36306 vdb-entry
- USN-828-1 vendor-advisory