CVE-2004-2396
Description
passwd 0.68 fails to check the return value of pam_start, potentially allowing PAM misconfiguration to go undetected.
AI Insight
LLM-synthesized narrative grounded in this CVE's description and references.
passwd 0.68 fails to check the return value of pam_start, potentially allowing PAM misconfiguration to go undetected.
Vulnerability
The passwd utility version 0.68 does not verify the return code of the pam_start function. This oversight means that if PAM initialization fails (e.g., due to misconfiguration or resource exhaustion), the program continues without error handling, potentially leading to unsafe authentication behavior. The issue was identified during a code review and reported in Red Hat Bugzilla [1].
Exploitation
An attacker would need to cause pam_start to fail, which could be achieved by manipulating PAM configuration files (requiring local access or privilege escalation) or by inducing resource exhaustion. The exact attack vector is not fully described, but the lack of return code check means that any failure in PAM initialization would go unnoticed, allowing the program to proceed with an uninitialized or partially initialized PAM handle.
Impact
The impact is unknown but could include bypassing authentication or other security controls if PAM fails to initialize properly. The CVE description notes that this may prevent "safe and proper operation" of PAM. The severity is unclear, but the bug could lead to privilege escalation or authentication bypass under specific conditions.
Mitigation
A patch was provided in the Red Hat Bugzilla entry [1] to add proper return code checking for pam_start. The fix was likely included in subsequent versions of passwd. Users should update to a patched version (e.g., passwd 0.69 or later). No workaround is documented.
AI Insight generated on May 24, 2026. Synthesized from this CVE's description and the cited reference URLs; citations are validated against the source bundle.
Affected products
1Patches
0No patches discovered yet.
Vulnerability mechanics
Root cause
"Missing return code check for pam_start allows the program to continue without confirming successful PAM initialization."
Attack vector
An attacker may be able to trigger a failure in pam_start (e.g., by exhausting system resources or providing invalid PAM configuration) that causes the program to continue operating without proper PAM authentication state. Because the return code is unchecked, the program may proceed with "safe and proper operation" of PAM compromised [ref_id=1]. The exact attack vector and impact are unspecified in the advisory.
Affected code
The passwd program (version 0.68) calls pam_start without checking its return code. The bug was discovered during a code review of the passwd RPM [ref_id=1]. No specific function or file path beyond the passwd program itself is named in the advisory.
What the fix does
The advisory does not include a published patch, but the reporter attached a revised patch to the bug report [ref_id=1]. The fix would add a check of the pam_start return code so that the program can abort or handle the error gracefully when PAM initialization fails, rather than continuing with an uninitialized or partially initialized PAM session.
Preconditions
- inputThe attacker must be able to cause pam_start to fail (e.g., via resource exhaustion or misconfiguration).
- authThe attacker must have local access to invoke the passwd program.
Generated on May 26, 2026. Inputs: CWE entries + fix-commit diffs from this CVE's patches. Citations validated against bundle.
References
4- bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla/show_bug.cginvdPatchVendor Advisory
- www.mandriva.com/security/advisoriesnvdPatchVendor Advisory
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/10370nvdPatch
- exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/16179nvd
News mentions
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