The run_coprocess function in pam_xauth.c in the pam_xauth module in Linux-PAM (aka pam)…
Priority LOW 16Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- — Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
- Attack complexity
- Medium
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Partial · Partial · None
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 9 fixed, 1 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
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.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.00363 30th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Red Hat: 2 advisoriesRed Hat: 9 fixed, 1 without a fix
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 23
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 1.1.1 | Vulnerable | Linux-PAM |
| cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:0.99.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.99.1.0 | Vulnerable | Linux-PAM |
| cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:0.99.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.99.2.0 | Vulnerable | Linux-PAM |
| cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:0.99.2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.99.2.1 | Vulnerable | Linux-PAM |
| cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:0.99.3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.99.3.0 | Vulnerable | Linux-PAM |
| cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:0.99.4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.99.4.0 | Vulnerable | Linux-PAM |
| cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:0.99.5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.99.5.0 | Vulnerable | Linux-PAM |
| cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:0.99.6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.99.6.0 | Vulnerable | Linux-PAM |
| cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:0.99.6.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.99.6.1 | Vulnerable | Linux-PAM |
| cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:0.99.6.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.99.6.2 | Vulnerable | Linux-PAM |
- cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 1.1.1 Vulnerable ·Linux-PAM
- cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:0.99.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.99.1.0 Vulnerable ·Linux-PAM
- cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:0.99.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.99.2.0 Vulnerable ·Linux-PAM
- cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:0.99.2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.99.2.1 Vulnerable ·Linux-PAM
- cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:0.99.3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.99.3.0 Vulnerable ·Linux-PAM
- cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:0.99.4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.99.4.0 Vulnerable ·Linux-PAM
- cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:0.99.5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.99.5.0 Vulnerable ·Linux-PAM
- cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:0.99.6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.99.6.0 Vulnerable ·Linux-PAM
- cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:0.99.6.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.99.6.1 Vulnerable ·Linux-PAM
- cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:0.99.6.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.99.6.2 Vulnerable ·Linux-PAM
Show 13 more CPE
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:0.99.6.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.99.6.3 | Vulnerable | Linux-PAM |
| cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:0.99.7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.99.7.0 | Vulnerable | Linux-PAM |
| cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:0.99.7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.99.7.1 | Vulnerable | Linux-PAM |
| cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:0.99.8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.99.8.0 | Vulnerable | Linux-PAM |
| cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:0.99.8.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.99.8.1 | Vulnerable | Linux-PAM |
| cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:0.99.9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.99.9.0 | Vulnerable | Linux-PAM |
| cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:0.99.10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.99.10.0 | Vulnerable | Linux-PAM |
| cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:1.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.0.0 | Vulnerable | Linux-PAM |
| cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:1.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.0.1 | Vulnerable | Linux-PAM |
| cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:1.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.0.2 | Vulnerable | Linux-PAM |
| cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:1.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.0.3 | Vulnerable | Linux-PAM |
| cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:1.0.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.0.4 | Vulnerable | Linux-PAM |
| cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:1.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.1.0 | Vulnerable | Linux-PAM |
- cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:0.99.6.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.99.6.3 Vulnerable ·Linux-PAM
- cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:0.99.7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.99.7.0 Vulnerable ·Linux-PAM
- cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:0.99.7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.99.7.1 Vulnerable ·Linux-PAM
- cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:0.99.8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.99.8.0 Vulnerable ·Linux-PAM
- cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:0.99.8.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.99.8.1 Vulnerable ·Linux-PAM
- cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:0.99.9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.99.9.0 Vulnerable ·Linux-PAM
- cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:0.99.10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.99.10.0 Vulnerable ·Linux-PAM
- cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:1.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.0.0 Vulnerable ·Linux-PAM
- cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:1.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.0.1 Vulnerable ·Linux-PAM
- cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:1.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.0.2 Vulnerable ·Linux-PAM
- cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:1.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.0.3 Vulnerable ·Linux-PAM
- cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:1.0.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.0.4 Vulnerable ·Linux-PAM
- cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:1.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.1.0 Vulnerable ·Linux-PAM
Remediation
Red Hat 2 advisories
- RHSA-2010:0891 Released 2010-11-16 · Red Hat rating Moderatepam security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) pam-1.1.1-4.el6_0.1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Optional (v. 6) pam-1.1.1-4.el6_0.1, pam-devel-1.1.1-4.el6_0.1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6) pam-1.1.1-4.el6_0.1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node Optional (v. 6) pam-1.1.1-4.el6_0.1, pam-devel-1.1.1-4.el6_0.1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) pam-1.1.1-4.el6_0.1, pam-1.1.1-4.el6_0.1.ppc, pam-devel-1.1.1-4.el6_0.1 +1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) pam-1.1.1-4.el6_0.1, pam-devel-1.1.1-4.el6_0.1
- RHSA-2010:0819 Released 2010-11-01 · Red Hat rating Moderatepam security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5 server) pam-0.99.6.2-6.el5_5.2, pam-0.99.6.2-6.el5_5.2.i386, pam-0.99.6.2-6.el5_5.2.ia64 +5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 5 client) pam-0.99.6.2-6.el5_5.2, pam-0.99.6.2-6.el5_5.2.i386
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Workstation (v. 5 client) pam-0.99.6.2-6.el5_5.2, pam-devel-0.99.6.2-6.el5_5.2, pam-devel-0.99.6.2-6.el5_5.2.i386
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5 server) | Fixed | RHSA-2010:0819 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 5 client) | Fixed | RHSA-2010:0819 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2010:0891 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2010:0891 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Workstation (v. 5 client) | Fixed | RHSA-2010:0819 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2010:0891 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2010:0891 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2010:0891 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2010:0891 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2010-3316
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-xj4j-67v3-3wr4
References
Patch 8
- [oss-security] 20100927 Re: Minor security flaw with pam_xauth
- [oss-security] 20100921 Re: Minor security flaw with pam_xauth
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=637898
- [oss-security] 20100924 Re: Minor security flaw with pam_xauth
- [oss-security] 20100921 Re: Minor security flaw with pam_xauth
- [oss-security] 20100927 Re: Minor security flaw with pam_xauth
- [oss-security] 20100928 Re: Minor security flaw with pam_xauth
- [oss-security] 20101025 Re: Minor security flaw with pam_xauth
Other 7
- [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
- ADV-2011-0606
- https://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&aid=3028213&group_id=6663&atid=106663
- [oss-security] 20100816 Minor security flaw with pam_xauth
- [oss-security] 20100928 Re: Minor security flaw with pam_xauth
- http://git.altlinux.org/people/ldv/packages/?p=pam.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=06f882f30092a39a1db867c9744b2ca8d60e4ad6
- http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2011-0004.html
More Linux-pam vulnerabilities
- TI-2022-11097 The Linux-PAM package before 1.5.2-6.1 for openSUSE Tumbleweed allows authentication… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2020-16865 Improper authentication in pam CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2015-02867 The _unix_run_helper_binary function in the pam_unix module in Linux-PAM (aka pam) before… CVSS 3.0MEDIUM 6.5
- TI-2014-02069 Multiple directory traversal vulnerabilities in pam_timestamp.c in the pam_timestamp… CVSS 2.0MEDIUM 5.8
- TI-2009-00845 Integer signedness error in the _pam_StrTok function in libpam/pam_misc.c in Linux-PAM… CVSS 2.0MEDIUM 6.6
- TI-2010-04431 The pam_env module in Linux-PAM (aka pam) 1.1.2 and earlier reads the .pam_environment… CVSS 2.0HIGH 7.2
Sources
- CVE-2010-3316 · CVE Program
- CVE-2010-3316 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-xj4j-67v3-3wr4 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2010-3316 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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