Description
The run_coprocess function in pam_xauth.c in the pam_xauth module in Linux-PAM (aka pam) before 1.1.2 does not check the return values of the setuid, setgid, and setgroups system calls, which might allow local users to read arbitrary files by executing a program that relies on the pam_xauth PAM check.
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 | 1.1.2-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | pam | 1.1.2-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | pam | 1.1.2-1 | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6 | pam +1 | 1.1.1-4.el6_0.1 | RHSA-2010:0891 |
| RHEL 5 | pam +1 | 0.99.6.2-6.el5_5.2 | RHSA-2010:0819 |
Advisories 2
- RHSA-2010:0819 Red Hat Security Advisory: pam security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2010:0891 Red Hat Security Advisory: pam security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
References
- [oss-security] 20100927 Re: Minor security flaw with pam_xauth mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20100921 Re: Minor security flaw with pam_xauth mailing-list
- GLSA-201206-31 vendor-advisory
- [security-announce] 20110307 VMSA-2011-0004 VMware ESX/ESXi SLPD denial of service vulnerability and ESX third party updates for Service Console packages bind, pam, and rpm mailing-list
- ADV-2011-0606 vdb-entry
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=637898
- 20110308 VMSA-2011-0004 VMware ESX/ESXi SLPD denial of service vulnerability and ESX third party updates for Service Console packages bind, pam, and rpm. mailing-list
- https://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&aid=3028213&group_id=6663&atid=106663
- [oss-security] 20100924 Re: Minor security flaw with pam_xauth mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20100816 Minor security flaw with pam_xauth mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20100921 Re: Minor security flaw with pam_xauth mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20100928 Re: Minor security flaw with pam_xauth mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20100927 Re: Minor security flaw with pam_xauth mailing-list
- MDVSA-2010:220 vendor-advisory
- 49711 third-party-advisory
- http://git.altlinux.org/people/ldv/packages/?p=pam.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=06f882f30092a39a1db867c9744b2ca8d60e4ad6
- [oss-security] 20100928 Re: Minor security flaw with pam_xauth mailing-list
- RHSA-2010:0891 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20101025 Re: Minor security flaw with pam_xauth mailing-list
- RHSA-2010:0819 vendor-advisory
- http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2011-0004.html