USN-4552-2: Pam-python vulnerability

21 October 2020

Pam-python could be made to crash or run programs as an administrator if certain environment variables are set.

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Releases

Packages

  • pam-python - Enables PAM modules to be written in Python

Details

Malte Kraus discovered that Pam-python mishandled certain environment
variables. A local attacker could potentially use this vulnerability to
execute programs as root.

Reduce your security exposure

Ubuntu Pro provides ten-year security coverage to 25,000+ packages in Main and Universe repositories, and it is free for up to five machines.

Learn more about Ubuntu Pro

Update instructions

The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following package versions:

Ubuntu 16.04

In general, a standard system update will make all the necessary changes.

References

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