---
title: "CVE-2008-5103\n    | Ubuntu"
description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the
  desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.
url: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2008-5103?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2008-5103

Publication date 17 November 2008

Last updated 24 July 2024

---

Ubuntu priority

**High**

[Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority )

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## Description

The (1) python-vm-builder and (2) ubuntu-vm-builder implementations in
VMBuilder 0.9 in Ubuntu 8.10 omit the -e option when invoking chpasswd with
a root:! argument, which configures the root account with a cleartext
password of ! (exclamation point) and allows attackers to bypass intended
login restrictions.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2008-5103?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ubuntu-vm-builder | 8.10 intrepid | Not in release |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not affected |
| 7.10 gutsy | Not in release |
| 6.06 LTS dapper | Not in release |
| vm-builder | 8.10 intrepid | Fixed |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release |
| 7.10 gutsy | Not in release |
| 6.06 LTS dapper | Not in release |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)

## Notes

---

### [jdstrand](https://launchpad.net/~jdstrand)

Ubuntu 8.04 LTS fixed this previously in 0.4-0ubuntu0.1

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2008-5103)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-5103)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2008-5103)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2008-5103)

### Other references

* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-5103>