PAM 0.80 on SELinux unix_chkpwd information disclosure

CVSS Meta Temp Score
CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.
Current Exploit Price (≈)
Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.
CTI Interest Score
Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
4.8$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in PAM 0.80 on SELinux. It has been rated as problematic. This issue affects some unknown processing of the file unix_chkpwd. The manipulation leads to information disclosure. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2005-2977. The attack can be initiated remotely. Additionally, an exploit exists. It is advised to substitute the affected component with an alternative.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in PAM 0.80 on SELinux and classified as problematic. This issue affects an unknown function of the file unix_chkpwd. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a information disclosure vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-200. The product exposes sensitive information to an actor that is not explicitly authorized to have access to that information. Impacted is confidentiality. The summary by CVE is:

The SELinux version of PAM before 0.78 r3 allows local users to perform brute force password guessing attacks via unix_chkpwd, which does not log failed guesses or delay its responses.

The bug was discovered 10/26/2005. The weakness was released 10/27/2005 by Tomas Mraz with Redhat as 168180 as not defined bug report (Bugzilla). The advisory is shared at bugzilla.redhat.com. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2005-2977 since 09/19/2005. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. Technical details as well as a exploit are known. MITRE ATT&CK project uses the attack technique T1592 for this issue.

The exploit is available at bugzilla.redhat.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 1 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $5k-$25k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 21966 (CentOS 4 : pam (CESA-2005:805)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family CentOS Local Security Checks and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 117830 (CentOS Security Update for PAM (CESA-2005:805)).

Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at nsa.gov. The problem might be mitigated by replacing the product with as an alternative. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be establishing an alternative product. A possible mitigation has been published 1 days after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (22900), Tenable (21966), SecurityFocus (BID 15217†), OSVDB (20351†) and Secunia (SA17365†). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Name

Version

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.8

VulDB Base Score: 5.3
VulDB Temp Score: 4.8
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Information disclosure
CWE: CWE-200 / CWE-284 / CWE-266
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Yes

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

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

0-DayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
TodayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

Nessus ID: 21966
Nessus Name: CentOS 4 : pam (CESA-2005:805)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍
Nessus Port: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 55818
OpenVAS Name: Gentoo Security Advisory GLSA 200510-22 (PAM)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Alternative
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍

Patch: nsa.gov

Timelineinfo

09/19/2005 🔍
10/26/2005 +37 days 🔍
10/26/2005 +0 days 🔍
10/26/2005 +0 days 🔍
10/27/2005 +1 days 🔍
10/27/2005 +0 days 🔍
10/28/2005 +0 days 🔍
10/28/2005 +0 days 🔍
10/31/2005 +3 days 🔍
10/31/2005 +0 days 🔍
11/01/2005 +1 days 🔍
07/05/2006 +246 days 🔍
06/29/2025 +6934 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: 168180
Researcher: Tomas Mraz
Organization: Redhat
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2005-2977 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2005-2977
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-1841

OVAL: 🔍

X-Force: 22900
SecurityFocus: 15217 - PAM Unix_Chkpwd Unauthorized Access Vulnerability
Secunia: 17365 - Gentoo update for pam, Not Critical
OSVDB: 20351 - PAM with SELinux unix_chkpwd Arbitrary Account Brute Force Weakness
SecurityTracker: 1015111
Vulnerability Center: 9498 - PAM unix_chkpwd Allows Local Brute-Force Attacks Against Other Users, Low
Vupen: ADV-2005-2227

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

Entryinfo

Created: 10/31/2005 11:03
Updated: 06/29/2025 10:15
Changes: 10/31/2005 11:03 (98), 07/05/2019 07:06 (1), 06/29/2025 10:15 (25)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Discussion

No comments yet. Languages: en.

Please log in to comment.

◂ PreviousOverviewNext ▸

Interested in the pricing of exploits?

See the underground prices here!