Medium severity6.5NVD Advisory· Published Aug 24, 2015· Updated Jun 17, 2026
CVE-2015-3238
CVE-2015-3238
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.
AI Insight
LLM-synthesized narrative grounded in this CVE's description and references.
Affected products
16- cpe:2.3:a:oracle:sparc-opl_service_processor:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*Range: <=1121
- osv-coords13 versionspkg:rpm/opensuse/pam&distro=openSUSE%20Tumbleweedpkg:rpm/suse/pam&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Desktop%2012%20SP1pkg:rpm/suse/pam&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Desktop%2012%20SP2pkg:rpm/suse/pam&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2011%20SP4pkg:rpm/suse/pam&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2012%20SP1pkg:rpm/suse/pam&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%2012%20SP2pkg:rpm/suse/pam&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%20for%20Raspberry%20Pi%2012%20SP2pkg:rpm/suse/pam&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%20for%20SAP%20Applications%2011%20SP4pkg:rpm/suse/pam&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%20for%20SAP%20Applications%2012%20SP1pkg:rpm/suse/pam&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Server%20for%20SAP%20Applications%2012%20SP2pkg:rpm/suse/pam&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Software%20Development%20Kit%2011%20SP4pkg:rpm/suse/pam&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Software%20Development%20Kit%2012%20SP1pkg:rpm/suse/pam&distro=SUSE%20Linux%20Enterprise%20Software%20Development%20Kit%2012%20SP2
< 1.3.0-3.4+ 12 more
- (no CPE)range: < 1.3.0-3.4
- (no CPE)range: < 1.1.8-23.1
- (no CPE)range: < 1.1.8-23.1
- (no CPE)range: < 1.1.5-0.17.2
- (no CPE)range: < 1.1.8-23.1
- (no CPE)range: < 1.1.8-23.1
- (no CPE)range: < 1.1.8-23.1
- (no CPE)range: < 1.1.5-0.17.2
- (no CPE)range: < 1.1.8-23.1
- (no CPE)range: < 1.1.8-23.1
- (no CPE)range: < 1.1.5-0.17.2
- (no CPE)range: < 1.1.8-23.1
- (no CPE)range: < 1.1.8-23.1
Patches
Vulnerability mechanics
References
13- www.trustwave.com/Resources/Security-Advisories/Advisories/TWSL2015-011/nvdExploit
- www.trustwave.com/Resources/SpiderLabs-Blog/Username-Enumeration-against-OpenSSH-SELinux-with-CVE-2015-3238/nvdExploit
- rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-1640.htmlnvdVendor Advisory
- lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2015-July/161350.htmlnvd
- lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2015-June/161249.htmlnvd
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2015/06/25/13nvd
- www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2016v3-2985753.htmlnvd
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/75428nvd
- www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2935-1nvd
- www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2935-2nvd
- www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2935-3nvd
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cginvd
- security.gentoo.org/glsa/201605-05nvd
News mentions
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