OpenBSD OpenSSH up to 3.3p1 PAM memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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9.0$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in OpenBSD OpenSSH. It has been declared as critical. Affected is an unknown function of the component PAM Module Handler. The manipulation results in memory corruption. This vulnerability is reported as CVE-2002-0640. Moreover, an exploit is present. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in OpenBSD OpenSSH (Connectivity Software). It has been classified as critical. Affected is some unknown processing of the component PAM Module Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-119. The product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it can read from or write to a memory location that is outside of the intended boundary of the buffer. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

Buffer overflow in sshd in OpenSSH 2.3.1 through 3.3 may allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a large number of responses during challenge response authentication when OpenBSD is using PAM modules with interactive keyboard authentication (PAMAuthenticationViaKbdInt).

The weakness was disclosed 06/26/2002 by Mark Dowd with ISS X-Force as confirmed advisory (CERT.org). The advisory is available at kb.cert.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2002-0640. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploitation doesn't require any form of authentication. Technical details are unknown but a public exploit is available.

The exploit is shared for download at securityfocus.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. As 0-day the estimated underground price was around $25k-$100k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 12309 (RHEL 2.1 : openssh (RHSA-2002:131)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Red Hat Local Security Checks and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 38357 (Red Hat OpenSSH PAMAuthenticationViaKbdInt Buffer Overflow Vulnerability).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published 2 days after the disclosure of the vulnerability. Attack attempts may be identified with Snort ID 1810. Furthermore it is possible to detect and prevent this kind of attack with TippingPoint and the filter 1646.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (9169), Exploit-DB (21578), Tenable (12309), SecurityFocus (BID 5093†) and OSVDB (839†). The entry VDB-18401 is pretty similar. If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 10.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 9.0

VulDB Base Score: 10.0
VulDB Temp Score: 9.0
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
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Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory corruption
CWE: CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Download: 🔍

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 12309
Nessus Name: RHEL 2.1 : openssh (RHSA-2002:131)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍
Nessus Port: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 53850
OpenVAS Name: Debian Security Advisory DSA 134-1 (ssh)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍
Snort ID: 1810
Snort Message: SERVER-OTHER successful gobbles ssh exploit GOBBLE
Snort Class: 🔍
TippingPoint: 🔍

McAfee IPS: 🔍
McAfee IPS Version: 🔍

SourceFire IPS: 🔍
ISS Proventia IPS: 🔍

Timelineinfo

06/24/2002 🔍
06/26/2002 +2 days 🔍
06/28/2002 +2 days 🔍
07/03/2002 +5 days 🔍
07/03/2002 +0 days 🔍
02/18/2003 +230 days 🔍
06/16/2003 +117 days 🔍
07/06/2004 +386 days 🔍
07/11/2014 +3657 days 🔍
09/14/2025 +4083 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: openbsd.org

Advisory: kb.cert.org
Researcher: Mark Dowd
Organization: ISS X-Force
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2002-0640 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2002-0640
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-18402
CERT: 🔍
X-Force: 9169
SecurityFocus: 5093 - OpenSSH Challenge-Response Buffer Overflow Vulnerabilities
OSVDB: 839 - OpenSSH PAMAuthenticationViaKbdInt Challenge-Response Remote Overflow
Vulnerability Center: 1203 - OpenSSH Buffer Overflow During Challenge Response Authentication Allows Arbitrary Code Execution, High

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013
See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 07/11/2014 14:23
Updated: 09/14/2025 21:27
Changes: 07/11/2014 14:23 (82), 05/09/2019 22:33 (9), 07/01/2024 14:33 (16), 10/24/2024 14:31 (1), 03/26/2025 04:50 (1), 09/14/2025 21:27 (4)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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