Linux-PAM Pam_Wheel Module getlogin() Username Spoofing Privileged Escalation Vulnerability

BID:7929

Info

Linux-PAM Pam_Wheel Module getlogin() Username Spoofing Privileged Escalation Vulnerability

Bugtraq ID: 7929
Class: Access Validation Error
CVE: CVE-2003-0388
Remote: No
Local: Yes
Published: Jun 16 2003 12:00AM
Updated: Jul 11 2009 10:06PM
Credit: The discovery of this vulnerability has been credited to Karol Wiesek ([email protected]).
Vulnerable: Redhat Linux 9.0 i386
Redhat Linux 7.3 i386
Redhat Enterprise Linux WS 2.1 IA64
Redhat Enterprise Linux WS 2.1
Redhat Enterprise Linux ES 2.1 IA64
Redhat Enterprise Linux ES 2.1
Redhat Enterprise Linux AS 2.1 IA64
Redhat Enterprise Linux AS 2.1
Redhat Advanced Workstation for the Itanium Processor 2.1 IA64
Redhat Advanced Workstation for the Itanium Processor 2.1
Linux-PAM Linux-PAM 0.77
Not Vulnerable: Linux-PAM Linux-PAM 0.78

Discussion

Linux-PAM Pam_Wheel Module getlogin() Username Spoofing Privileged Escalation Vulnerability

A vulnerability has been discovered in the Linux-Pam pam_wheel module. The problem exists in the way the module authenticates users under certain configurations. Specifically, if the module is configured to allow wheel group members to use the 'su' utility without supplying credentials and is not configured to verify the user's UID, it may be possible for a local attacker to elevated privileges.

This can be accomplished by spoofing the users login named, returned by the getlogin() function, to that of a logged in user of the wheel group.

Successful exploitation of this condition could ultimately result in an attacker gaining local root access on the target system.

Solution / Fix

Linux-PAM Pam_Wheel Module getlogin() Username Spoofing Privileged Escalation Vulnerability

Solution:
It has been reported that Linux-PAM 0.78 is not affected by this issue. The vendor has announced that a fix for version 0.77 will not be released and a new version of Linux-Pam will also not be released. Users are advised to upgrade to the unaffected version as soon as possible.

Red Hat has released advisory RHSA-2004:304-05 and fixes to address this issue on Red Hat Linux Enterprise platforms. Customers who are affected by this issue are advised to apply the appropriate updates. Customers subscribed to the Red Hat Network may apply the appropriate fixes using the Red Hat Update Agent (up2date). Please see referenced advisory for additional information.

A Fedora Legacy advisory (FLSA:152771) and updates are available to address this issue for Red Hat Linux. Please see the referenced advisory for further information in regards to obtaining and applying appropriate updates.


Linux-PAM Linux-PAM 0.77

References

Linux-PAM Pam_Wheel Module getlogin() Username Spoofing Privileged Escalation Vulnerability

References:

© CVE.report 2026

Use of this information constitutes acceptance for use in an AS IS condition. There are NO warranties, implied or otherwise, with regard to this information or its use. Any use of this information is at the user's risk. It is the responsibility of user to evaluate the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information, opinion, advice or other content. EACH USER WILL BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY consequences of his or her direct or indirect use of this web site. ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND ARE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED. This site will NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT or any other kind of loss.

CVE, CWE, and OVAL are registred trademarks of The MITRE Corporation and the authoritative source of CVE content is MITRE's CVE web site. This site includes MITRE data granted under the following license.

Free CVE JSON API cve.report/api

CVE.report and Source URL Uptime Status status.cve.report