USN-4552-2: Pam-python vulnerability

21 October 2020

Pam-python could be made to crash or run programs as an administrator if certain environment variables are set.

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Releases

Packages

  • pam-python - Enables PAM modules to be written in Python

Details

Malte Kraus discovered that Pam-python mishandled certain environment
variables. A local attacker could potentially use this vulnerability to
execute programs as root.

Reduce your security exposure

Ubuntu Pro provides ten-year security coverage to 25,000+ packages in Main and Universe repositories, and it is free for up to five machines.

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Update instructions

The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following package versions:

Ubuntu 16.04

In general, a standard system update will make all the necessary changes.

References

Related notices

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Further reading