python-pam vulnerability

8 March 2012

python-pam vulnerability

A security issue affects these releases of Ubuntu and its derivatives:

• Ubuntu 11.10
• Ubuntu 11.04
• Ubuntu 10.10
• Ubuntu 10.04 LTS

Summary

PyPAM could be made to crash or possibly run programs if it processed a specially crafted password.

Software Description

• python-pam - A Python interface to the PAM library

Details

Markus Vervier discovered that PyPAM incorrectly handled passwords containing NULL bytes. An attacker could exploit this to cause applications using PyPAM to crash, or possibly execute arbitrary code.

Update instructions

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

Ubuntu 11.10

python-pam - 0.4.2-12.2ubuntu2.11.10.1

Ubuntu 11.04

python-pam - 0.4.2-12.2ubuntu2.11.04.1

Ubuntu 10.10

python-pam - 0.4.2-12.1ubuntu1.10.10.1

Ubuntu 10.04 LTS

python-pam - 0.4.2-12.1ubuntu1.10.04.1

To update your system, please follow these instructions: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Security/Upgrades.

After a standard system update you need to restart applications that use PyPAM to make all the necessary changes.

References

• CVE-2012-1502