Description
add_password in pam_radius_auth.c in pam_radius 1.4.0 does not correctly check the length of the input password, and is vulnerable to a stack-based buffer overflow during memcpy(). An attacker could send a crafted password to an application (loading the pam_radius library) and crash it. Arbitrary code execution might be possible, depending on the application, C library, compiler, and other factors.
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 | libpam-radius-auth | 1.4.0-3 | — |
| Debian 13 | libpam-radius-auth | 1.4.0-3 | — |
| Debian 12 | libpam-radius-auth | 1.4.0-3 | — |
| Debian 9 | libpam-radius-auth | 1.3.16-5+deb9u1 | DLA-2304-1 |
| Debian 8 | libpam-radius-auth | 1.3.16-4.4+deb8u1 | DLA-2116-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | libpam-radius-auth | 1.3.17-0ubuntu5.18.04.1 | USN-4290-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | libpam-radius-auth | 1.3.17-0ubuntu4.1 | USN-4290-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | libpam-radius-auth | 1.3.17-0ubuntu4+esm1 | USN-4290-2 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP3 | pam_radius | 1.4.0-3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:1896-1 |
| SLES 15 SP2 | pam_radius | 1.4.0-3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:1896-1 |
| SLES 15 SP1 | pam_radius | 1.4.0-3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:1896-1 |
| SLES 15 | pam_radius | 1.4.0-3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:1896-1 |
| SLES 12 SP5 | pam_radius | 1.3.16-239.4.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:1117-1 |
Show 22 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP4 | pam_radius | 1.3.16-239.4.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:1117-1 |
| SLES 12 SP3 | pam_radius | 1.3.16-239.4.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:1117-1 |
| SLES 12 SP2 | pam_radius | 1.3.16-239.4.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:1117-1 |
| SLES 12 SP1 | pam_radius | 1.3.16-239.4.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:1117-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP1 | pam_radius | 1.4.0-3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:1896-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 | pam_radius | 1.4.0-3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:1896-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP5 | pam_radius | 1.3.16-239.4.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:1117-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP4 | pam_radius | 1.3.16-239.4.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:1117-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP3 | pam_radius | 1.3.16-239.4.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:1117-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | pam_radius | 1.3.16-239.4.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:1117-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | pam_radius | 1.3.16-239.4.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:1117-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP1 | pam_radius | 1.4.0-3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:1896-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 | pam_radius | 1.4.0-3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:1896-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud Crowbar 8 | pam_radius | 1.3.16-239.4.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:1117-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 8 | pam_radius | 1.3.16-239.4.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:1117-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 7 | pam_radius | 1.3.16-239.4.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:1117-1 |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.0 | pam_radius | 1.4.0-3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:1896-1 |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.0 | pam_radius | 1.4.0-3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:1896-1 |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.0 | pam_radius | 1.4.0-3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:1896-1 |
| SUSE HPE Helion OpenStack 8 | pam_radius | 1.3.16-239.4.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:1117-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 6 | pam_radius | 1.4.0-3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:1896-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 5 | pam_radius | 1.3.16-239.4.1 | SUSE-SU-2020:1117-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Leap 15.3 | pam_radius | 1.4.0-3.3.1 | openSUSE-SU-2021:1896-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.2 | pam_radius | 1.4.0-lp152.4.3.1 | openSUSE-SU-2021:0870-1 |
Advisories 8
- DLA-2304-1 libpam-radius-auth - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-2116-1 libpam-radius-auth - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- USN-4290-1 libpam-radius-auth vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- USN-4290-2 libpam-radius-auth vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2021:1896-1 Security update for pam_radius SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2021:1896-1 Security update for pam_radius SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2021:0870-1 Security update for pam_radius SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2020:1117-1 Security update for pam_radius SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- https://github.com/FreeRADIUS/pam_radius/commit/01173ec2426627dbb1e0d96c06c3ffa0b14d36d0
- [debian-lts-announce] 20200222 [SECURITY] [DLA 2116-1] libpam-radius-auth security update mailing-list
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2015-9542
- USN-4290-1 vendor-advisory
- USN-4290-2 vendor-advisory
- [debian-lts-announce] 20200801 [SECURITY] [DLA 2304-1] libpam-radius-auth security update mailing-list