Untrusted search path vulnerability in pam_motd (aka the MOTD module) in libpam-modules…
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- — Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
- Attack complexity
- Medium
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Complete · Complete · Complete
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
Untrusted search path vulnerability in pam_motd (aka the MOTD module) in libpam-modules before 1.1.3-2ubuntu2.1 on Ubuntu 11.10, before 1.1.2-2ubuntu8.4 on Ubuntu 11.04, before 1.1.1-4ubuntu2.4 on Ubuntu 10.10, before 1.1.1-2ubuntu5.4 on Ubuntu 10.04 LTS, and before 0.99.7.1-5ubuntu6.5 on Ubuntu 8.04 LTS, when using certain configurations such as "session optional pam_motd.so", allows local users to gain privileges by modifying the PATH environment variable to reference a malicious command, as demonstrated via uname.
Why it matters now
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 · 9
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:canonical:libpam-modules:0.9.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.9.7 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:a:canonical:libpam-modules:1.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.1.1 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:a:canonical:libpam-modules:1.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.1.2 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:a:canonical:libpam-modules:1.1.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.1.3 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:8.04:-:lts:*:*:*:*:* | 8.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:10.04:-:lts:*:*:*:*:* | 10.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:10.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 10.10 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:11.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:11.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11.10 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
- cpe:2.3:a:canonical:libpam-modules:0.9.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.9.7 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:a:canonical:libpam-modules:1.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.1.1 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:a:canonical:libpam-modules:1.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.1.2 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:a:canonical:libpam-modules:1.1.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.1.3 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:8.04:-:lts:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:10.04:-:lts:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:10.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10.10 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:11.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:11.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.10 Vulnerable ·Canonical
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2011-3628
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-9hgw-rg97-xh38
References
Sources
- CVE-2011-3628 · CVE Program
- CVE-2011-3628 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-9hgw-rg97-xh38 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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