CVE-2010-3431
The privilege-dropping implementation in the (1) pam_env and (2) pam_mail modules in Linux-PAM ...
The privilege-dropping implementation in the (1) pam_env and (2) pam_mail modules in Linux-PAM (aka pam) 1.1.2 does not check the return value of the setfsuid system call, which might allow local users to obtain sensitive information by leveraging an unintended uid, as demonstrated by a symlink attack on the .pam_environment file in a user's home directory. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2010-3435.
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
1.9
The privilege-dropping implementation in the (1) pam_env and (2) pam_mail modules in Linux-PAM (aka pam) 1.1.2 does not check the return value of the setfsuid system call, which might allow local users to obtain sensitive information by leveraging an unintended uid, as demonstrated by a symlink attack on the .pam_environment file in a user's home directory. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2010-3435.
- Record
CVE-2010-3431- CVSS 2.0
- 1.9 Low
AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List No score
The privilege-dropping implementation in the (1) pam_env and (2) pam_mail modules in Linux-PAM (aka pam) 1.1.2 does not check the return value of the setfsuid system call, which might allow local users to obtain sensitive information by leveraging an unintended uid, as demonstrated by a symlink attack on the .pam_environment file in a user's home directory. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2010-3435.
- Record
CVE-2010-3431- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2010-3429 No score
The privilege-dropping implementation in the (1) pam_env and (2) pam_mail modules in Linux-PAM (aka pam) 1.1.2 does not check the return value of the setfsuid system call, which might allow local users to obtain sensitive information by leveraging an unintended uid, as demonstrated by a symlink attack on the .pam_environment file in a user's home directory. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2010-3435.
- Record
EUVD-2010-3429- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-65hr-mfq3-4rjr No score
The privilege-dropping implementation in the (1) pam_env and (2) pam_mail modules in Linux-PAM ...
The privilege-dropping implementation in the (1) pam_env and (2) pam_mail modules in Linux-PAM (aka pam) 1.1.2 does not check the return value of the setfsuid system call, which might allow local users to obtain sensitive information by leveraging an unintended uid, as demonstrated by a symlink attack on the .pam_environment file in a user's home directory. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2010-3435.
- Record
GHSA-65hr-mfq3-4rjr- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVBELL-CVE-2010-3431
1.9
CVE-2010-3431 does not affect BellSoft software
- Record
BELL-CVE-2010-3431- CVSS 2.0
- 1.9 Low
AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV No score
The privilege-dropping implementation in the (1) pam_env and (2) pam_mail modules in Linux-PAM (aka pam) 1.1.2 does not check the return value of the setfsuid system call, which might allow local users to obtain sensitive information by leveraging an unintended uid, as demonstrated by a symlink attack on the .pam_environment file in a user's home directory. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2010-3435.
- Record
CVE-2010-3431- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2010-3431 No score
The privilege-dropping implementation in the (1) pam_env and (2) pam_mail modules in Linux-PAM (aka pam) 1.1.2 does not check the return value of the setfsuid system call, which might allow local users to obtain sensitive information by leveraging an unintended uid, as demonstrated by a symlink attack on the .pam_environment file in a user's home directory. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2010-3435.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2010-3431- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2024:10405-1 No score
pam-1.3.0-3.4 on GA media
These are all security issues fixed in the pam-1.3.0-3.4 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.
- Record
openSUSE-SU-2024:10405-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2010-3431 is a low vulnerability (CVSS 1.9) in Linux-pam, published January 24, 2011. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.35%, the 28th percentile. Fixed in pam 1.1.3-1.
References
openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/09/27/5
openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/09/21/3
security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-201206-31.xml
openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/10/03/1
openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/09/24/2
openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/09/21/9
Show 22 moreShow less
openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/09/21/8
openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/09/27/10
git.altlinux.org/people/ldv/packages?p=pam.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=843807a3a90f52e7538be756616510730a24739a
openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/09/27/4
openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/09/21/10
secunia.com/advisories/49711
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=641361
openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/09/27/7
openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/10/25/2
openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2010/09/21/11
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2010-3431
git.altlinux.org/people/ldv/packages?p=pam.git;a=commit;h=843807a3a90f52e7538be756616510730a24739a
github.com/advisories/GHSA-65hr-mfq3-4rjr
docs.bell-sw.com/security/cves/CVE-2010-3431
security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2010-3431
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2010-3430
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2010-3431
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2010-3853
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2011-3148
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2011-3149
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