Canonical Ubuntu Linux up to 10.9 Privileges denial of service

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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8.0$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Canonical Ubuntu Linux up to 10.9. It has been rated as problematic. This affects an unknown function of the component Privileges. Performing a manipulation results in denial of service. This vulnerability was named CVE-2011-3628. There is no available exploit. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Canonical Ubuntu Linux up to 10.9 (Operating System). This affects an unknown function of the component Privileges. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a denial of service vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-404. The product does not release or incorrectly releases a resource before it is made available for re-use. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

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.

The weakness was presented 04/15/2014 (Website). It is possible to read the advisory at bugs.launchpad.net. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2011-3628. Attacking locally is a requirement. No form of authentication is needed for exploitation. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not publicly available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 56629 (Ubuntu 8.04 LTS / 10.04 LTS / 10.10 / 11.04 / 11.10 : pam vulnerabilities (USN-1237-1)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Ubuntu Local Security Checks. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 195238 (Ubuntu Security Notification for Pam Vulnerabilities (USN-1237-1)).

Upgrading to version 10.10 eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (70937), Tenable (56629), SecurityFocus (BID 50343†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-33656†). See VDB-61382 and VDB-61381 for similar entries. Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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Vendor

Name

Version

License

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 8.4
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 8.0

VulDB Base Score: 8.4
VulDB Temp Score: 8.0
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Denial of service
CWE: CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 56629
Nessus Name: Ubuntu 8.04 LTS / 10.04 LTS / 10.10 / 11.04 / 11.10 : pam vulnerabilities (USN-1237-1)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 840794
OpenVAS Name: Ubuntu Update for pam USN-1237-1
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Upgrade: Ubuntu Linux 10.10

Timelineinfo

09/21/2011 🔍
10/14/2011 +23 days 🔍
10/24/2011 +10 days 🔍
10/31/2011 +7 days 🔍
04/15/2014 +897 days 🔍
04/15/2014 +0 days 🔍
03/25/2015 +344 days 🔍
05/10/2026 +4064 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: USN-1237-1
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2011-3628 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2011-3628
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-69363

OVAL: 🔍

X-Force: 70937
SecurityFocus: 50343 - Linux-PAM 'pam_env' Module Multiple Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerabilities
Vulnerability Center: 33656 - Linux-PAM 1.1.2 pam_motd Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability, High

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 03/25/2015 16:45
Updated: 05/10/2026 19:43
Changes: 03/25/2015 16:45 (63), 04/04/2017 11:30 (8), 03/15/2022 09:41 (4), 03/15/2022 09:42 (1), 05/10/2026 19:43 (17)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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