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TI-2026-39287 Aliases CVE-2026-54411GHSA-56gg-22rq-q53x

Linux-PAM pam_userdb Observable Timing Discrepancy in Plaintext Password Comparison

Priority LOW 30CWE-208Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
High
Attack requirements
Present
Impact type
Information disclosure
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · None · None
Fix status
Partial Red Hat: 27 fixed, 3 without a fix

Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-208.

Summary

Linux-PAM through 1.7.2 contains an observable timing discrepancy (CWE-208) in the pam_userdb module's plaintext-password comparison path in modules/pam_userdb/pam_userdb.c that allows a local or network-adjacent attacker able to repeatedly drive authentication through a calling service to recover the plaintext password of a target account by measuring response-timing differences.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.0032 25th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Red Hat: 37 advisoriesRed Hat: 27 fixed, 3 without a fix

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Partial

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
Linux-PAMLinux-PAMup to 1.7.2—No fix listedCNA
  • Linux-PAM VendorLinux-PAM Affected up to 1.7.2 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

Remediation

Red Hat 37 advisories

  • RHSA-2026:92452 Released 2026-10-29 · Red Hat rating Critical
    Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI 3.5.2 enhancement update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI 3.5 registry.redhat.io/rhelai3/bootc-aws-cuda-rhel9, registry.redhat.io/rhelai3/bootc-azure-cuda-rhel9, registry.redhat.io/rhelai3/bootc-azure-rocm-rhel9 +3
  • RHSA-2026:92449 Released 2026-10-29 · Red Hat rating Critical
    Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI 3.5.2 enhancement update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI 3.5 registry.redhat.io/rhelai3/disk-image-cuda-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:82415 Released 2026-10-13 · Red Hat rating Critical
    Red Hat AI Inference 3.5.2 (cpu)
    • Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.5 registry.redhat.io/rhaii/vllm-cpu-rhel9
Show 34 more Red Hat advisories
  • RHSA-2026:82371 Released 2026-10-13 · Red Hat rating Critical
    Red Hat AI Inference 3.5.2 (spyre)
    • Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.5 registry.redhat.io/rhaii/vllm-spyre-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:82368 Released 2026-10-13 · Red Hat rating Critical
    Red Hat AI Inference 3.5.2 (cuda)
    • Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.5 registry.redhat.io/rhaii/vllm-cuda-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:82066 Released 2026-10-13 · Red Hat rating Important
    Red Hat AI Inference Model Optimization Tools 3.5.2 (CUDA)
    • Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.5 registry.redhat.io/rhaii/model-opt-cuda-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:82061 Released 2026-10-13 · Red Hat rating Critical
    Red Hat AI Inference Tech Preview 3.5.2 (Gaudi)
    • Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.5 registry.redhat.io/rhaii/vllm-gaudi-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:82059 Released 2026-10-13 · Red Hat rating Critical
    Red Hat AI Inference 3.5.2 (ROCm)
    • Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.5 registry.redhat.io/rhaii/vllm-rocm-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:74674 Released 2026-10-01 · Red Hat rating Important
    Red Hat AI Base Images 3.4.3 (Neuron)
    • Red Hat OpenShift AI 3.4 registry.redhat.io/rhai/base-image-neuron-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:74463 Released 2026-10-01 · Red Hat rating Important
    Red Hat AI Base Images 3.2.3 (ROCm 7.0)
    • Red Hat OpenShift AI 3.2 registry.redhat.io/rhai/base-image-rocm-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:74462 Released 2026-10-01 · Red Hat rating Important
    Red Hat AI Base Images 3.2.3 (CUDA 12.9)
    • Red Hat OpenShift AI 3.2 registry.redhat.io/rhai/base-image-cuda-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:74461 Released 2026-10-01 · Red Hat rating Important
    Red Hat AI Base Images 3.2.3 (Spyre)
    • Red Hat OpenShift AI 3.2 registry.redhat.io/rhai/base-image-spyre-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:74460 Released 2026-10-01 · Red Hat rating Important
    Red Hat AI Base Images 3.2.3 (CPU)
    • Red Hat OpenShift AI 3.2 registry.redhat.io/rhai/base-image-cpu-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:74459 Released 2026-10-01 · Red Hat rating Important
    Red Hat AI Base Images 3.2.3 (ROCm 6.4)
    • Red Hat OpenShift AI 3.2 registry.redhat.io/rhai/base-image-rocm-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:74458 Released 2026-10-01 · Red Hat rating Important
    Red Hat AI Base Images 3.2.3 (TPU)
    • Red Hat OpenShift AI 3.2 registry.redhat.io/rhai/base-image-tpu-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:73962 Released 2026-09-30 · Red Hat rating Important
    Red Hat AI Base Images 3.0.3 (cuda)
    • Red Hat OpenShift AI 3.0 registry.redhat.io/rhai/base-image-cuda-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:73961 Released 2026-09-30 · Red Hat rating Important
    Red Hat AI Base Images 3.0.3 (spyre)
    • Red Hat OpenShift AI 3.0 registry.redhat.io/rhai/base-image-spyre-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:73960 Released 2026-09-30 · Red Hat rating Important
    Red Hat AI Base Images 3.0.3 (cpu)
    • Red Hat OpenShift AI 3.0 registry.redhat.io/rhai/base-image-cpu-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:73959 Released 2026-09-30 · Red Hat rating Important
    Red Hat AI Base Images 3.0.3 (tpu)
    • Red Hat OpenShift AI 3.0 registry.redhat.io/rhai/base-image-tpu-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:73930 Released 2026-09-30 · Red Hat rating Important
    Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.2.2 (rocm)
    • Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.2 registry.redhat.io/rhaiis/vllm-rocm-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:73929 Released 2026-09-30 · Red Hat rating Important
    Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.2.2 (cuda)
    • Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.2 registry.redhat.io/rhaiis/vllm-cuda-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:73909 Released 2026-09-30 · Red Hat rating Important
    Red Hat AI Base Images 3.0.3 (rocm)
    • Red Hat OpenShift AI 3.0 registry.redhat.io/rhai/base-image-rocm-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:73859 Released 2026-09-30 · Red Hat rating Important
    Red Hat AI Inference Server Model Optimization Tools 3.2.2 (CUDA)
    • Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.2 registry.redhat.io/rhaiis/model-opt-cuda-rhel9
  • RHSA-2026:64815 Released 2026-09-08 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    pam security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) pam-devel-1.5.1-28.el9_8.1, pam-docs-1.5.1-28.el9_8.1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) pam-1.5.1-28.el9_8.1
  • RHSA-2026:61230 Released 2026-08-31 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    pam security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.6) pam-devel-1.5.1-26.el9_6.1, pam-docs-1.5.1-26.el9_6.1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.6) pam-1.5.1-26.el9_6.1
  • RHSA-2026:61228 Released 2026-08-31 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    pam security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.4) pam-devel-1.5.1-24.el9_4.2, pam-docs-1.5.1-24.el9_4.2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.9.4) pam-1.5.1-24.el9_4.2
  • RHSA-2026:61226 Released 2026-08-31 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    pam security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.2) pam-devel-1.5.1-15.el9_2.3, pam-docs-1.5.1-15.el9_2.3
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.9.2) pam-1.5.1-15.el9_2.3
  • RHSA-2026:61229 Released 2026-08-31 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    pam security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v. 10.0) pam-devel-1.6.1-8.el10_0.1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v. 10.0) pam-1.6.1-8.el10_0.1, pam-libs-1.6.1-8.el10_0.1
  • RHSA-2026:61227 Released 2026-08-31 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    pam security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7 ELS) pam-1.1.8-23.el7_9.3, pam-1.1.8-23.el7_9.3.ppc, pam-devel-1.1.8-23.el7_9.3 +1
  • RHSA-2026:61225 Released 2026-08-31 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    pam security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.8.8) pam-1.3.1-26.el8_8.3, pam-devel-1.3.1-26.el8_8.3
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS TUS (v.8.8) pam-1.3.1-26.el8_8.3, pam-devel-1.3.1-26.el8_8.3
  • RHSA-2026:61223 Released 2026-08-31 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    pam security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v.8.6) pam-1.3.1-16.el8_6.4, pam-devel-1.3.1-16.el8_6.4
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS EXTENSION (v.8.6) pam-1.3.1-16.el8_6.4, pam-devel-1.3.1-16.el8_6.4
  • RHSA-2026:61224 Released 2026-08-31 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    pam security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v.8.4) pam-1.3.1-14.el8_4.3, pam-devel-1.3.1-14.el8_4.3
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS EXTENSION (v.8.4) pam-1.3.1-14.el8_4.3, pam-devel-1.3.1-14.el8_4.3
  • RHSA-2026:60224 Released 2026-08-26 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    pam security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) pam-devel-1.5.1-27.el9_8.1, pam-docs-1.5.1-27.el9_8.1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) pam-1.5.1-27.el9_8.1
  • RHSA-2026:59379 Released 2026-08-25 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    pam security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) pam-devel-1.6.1-9.el10_2.1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) pam-1.6.1-9.el10_2.1, pam-libs-1.6.1-9.el10_2.1
  • RHSA-2026:56131 Released 2026-08-18 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    pam security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) pam-1.3.1-40.el8_10, pam-devel-1.3.1-40.el8_10
  • RHSA-2026:35016 Released 2026-07-02 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    Red Hat Hardened Images RPMs Security Update
    • Red Hat Hardened Images pam-1.7.2-2.2.hum1@aarch64, pam-1.7.2-2.2.hum1@src, pam-1.7.2-2.2.hum1@x86_64 +6
  • RHSA-2026:7553 Released 2026-04-10 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    Red Hat Hardened Images RPMs bug fix and enhancement update
    • Red Hat Hardened Images pam-1.7.2-1.1.hum1@aarch64, pam-1.7.2-1.1.hum1@src, pam-1.7.2-1.1.hum1@x86_64 +6

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4AffectedNo fix yet: Fix deferred
Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5AffectedNo fix yet: Fix deferred
Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.2Fixed RHSA-2026:73859, RHSA-2026:73929, RHSA-2026:73930
Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.5Fixed RHSA-2026:82059, RHSA-2026:82061, RHSA-2026:82066, RHSA-2026:82368, RHSA-2026:82371, RHSA-2026:82415
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI 3.5Fixed RHSA-2026:92449, RHSA-2026:92452
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10)Fixed RHSA-2026:59379
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2026:60224, RHSA-2026:64815
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.2)Fixed RHSA-2026:61226
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.4)Fixed RHSA-2026:61228
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v. 10.0)Fixed RHSA-2026:61229
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.6)Fixed RHSA-2026:61230
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10)Fixed RHSA-2026:59379
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8)Fixed RHSA-2026:56131
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2026:60224, RHSA-2026:64815
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v.8.4)Fixed RHSA-2026:61224
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v.8.6)Fixed RHSA-2026:61223
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.8.8)Fixed RHSA-2026:61225
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.9.2)Fixed RHSA-2026:61226
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.9.4)Fixed RHSA-2026:61228
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v. 10.0)Fixed RHSA-2026:61229
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.6)Fixed RHSA-2026:61230
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS EXTENSION (v.8.4)Fixed RHSA-2026:61224
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS EXTENSION (v.8.6)Fixed RHSA-2026:61223
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS TUS (v.8.8)Fixed RHSA-2026:61225
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7 ELS)Fixed RHSA-2026:61227
Red Hat Hardened ImagesFixed RHSA-2026:35016, RHSA-2026:7553
Red Hat OpenShift AI 3.0Fixed RHSA-2026:73909, RHSA-2026:73959, RHSA-2026:73960, RHSA-2026:73961, RHSA-2026:73962
Red Hat OpenShift AI 3.2Fixed RHSA-2026:74458, RHSA-2026:74459, RHSA-2026:74460, RHSA-2026:74461, RHSA-2026:74462, RHSA-2026:74463
Red Hat OpenShift AI 3.4Fixed RHSA-2026:74674

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-54411
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-56gg-22rq-q53x
  3. 2026-10-13 Fix available: RHSA-2026:82066 · Red Hat
  4. 2026-10-13 Fix available: RHSA-2026:82061 · Red Hat
  5. 2026-10-13 Fix available: RHSA-2026:82059 · Red Hat
  6. 2026-10-13 Fix available: Red Hat AI Inference Server 3.5 · Red Hat
  7. 2026-10-14 Fix available: RHSA-2026:82368 · Red Hat
  8. 2026-10-14 Fix available: RHSA-2026:82415 · Red Hat
  9. 2026-10-14 Fix available: RHSA-2026:82371 · Red Hat
  10. 2026-10-15 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
  11. 2026-10-30 Fix available: RHSA-2026:92452 · Red Hat
  12. 2026-10-30 Fix available: RHSA-2026:92449 · Red Hat
  13. 2026-10-30 Fix available: Red Hat Enterprise Linux AI 3.5 · Red Hat
  14. 2026-11-06 Affected versions changed · Red Hat

References

Other 4

  • 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
See all 18 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences