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CVE-2019-16729

pam-python before 1.0.7-1 has an issue in regard to the default environment variable handling of...

7.8 HighFix available

pam-python before 1.0.7-1 has an issue in regard to the default environment variable handling of Python, which could allow for local root escalation in certain PAM setups.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Local
Complexity
Low
Privileges needed
Low
User interaction
None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Exploit likelihood

0.36%Down 1.3 points since Apr 14, 2021
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

NVD Score used 7.8

pam-python before 1.0.7-1 has an issue in regard to the default environment variable handling of Python, which could allow for local root escalation in certain PAM setups.

Record
CVE-2019-16729
CVSS 3.1
7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 2.0
7.2 HighAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
Updated
2026-11-02
CVE List No score

pam-python before 1.0.7-1 has an issue in regard to the default environment variable handling of Python, which could allow for local root escalation in certain PAM setups.

Record
CVE-2019-16729
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2019-7274 No score

pam-python before 1.0.7-1 has an issue in regard to the default environment variable handling of Python, which could allow for local root escalation in certain PAM setups.

Record
EUVD-2019-7274
Updated
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-fmm4-q9rf-m62f 7.8

pam-python before 1.0.7-1 has an issue in regard to the default environment variable handling of...

pam-python before 1.0.7-1 has an issue in regard to the default environment variable handling of Python, which could allow for local root escalation in certain PAM setups.

Record
GHSA-fmm4-q9rf-m62f
CVSS 3.1
7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV 7.8

pam-python before 1.0.7-1 has an issue in regard to the default environment variable handling of Python, which could allow for local root escalation in certain PAM setups.

Record
CVE-2019-16729
CVSS 3.1
7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2019-16729 7.8

pam-python before 1.0.7-1 has an issue in regard to the default environment variable handling of Python, which could allow for local root escalation in certain PAM setups.

Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2019-16729
CVSS 3.1
7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
Show 4 moreShow less
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2019-16729 7.8

pam-python before 1.0.7-1 has an issue in regard to the default environment variable handling of Python, which could allow for local root escalation in certain PAM setups.

Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2019-16729
CVSS 3.1
7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUSN-4552-1 No score

pam-python vulnerability

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

Record
USN-4552-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUSN-4552-2 No score

pam-python vulnerability

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

Record
USN-4552-2
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUSN-4552-3 No score

pam-python regression

USN-4552-1 and USN-4552-2 fixed a vulnerability in Pam-python. The update introduced a regression which prevented PAM modules written in Python from importing python modules from site-specific directories.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

Original advisory details:

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

Record
USN-4552-3
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
pam-python
Debian:12
 before 1.0.7-1
1.0.7-1
pam-python
Debian:13
 before 1.0.7-1
1.0.7-1
pam-python
Debian:14
 before 1.0.7-1
1.0.7-1
pam-python
Debian:8
 before 1.0.4-1.1+deb8u1, plus listed versions
1.0.4-1
1.0.4-1.1+deb8u1
pam-python
Debian:9
 before 1.0.6-1.1+deb9u1, plus listed versions
1.0.6-11.0.6-1.1
1.0.6-1.1+deb9u1
pam-python
Debian:10
 before 1.0.6-1.1+deb10u1, plus listed versions
1.0.6-1.1
1.0.6-1.1+deb10u1
pam-python
Ubuntu:16.04:LTS
 before 1.0.4-1.1+deb8u1build0.16.04.1, plus listed versions
1.0.4-1
1.0.4-1.1+deb8u1build0.16.04.1
pam-python
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS
 before 1.0.6-1.1+deb10u1build0.18.04.1, plus listed versions
1.0.6-1
1.0.6-1.1+deb10u1build0.18.04.1
pam-python
Ubuntu:16.04:LTS
 before 1.0.4-1.1+deb8u1ubuntu0.1, plus listed versions
1.0.4-11.0.4-1.1+deb8u1build0.16.04.1
1.0.4-1.1+deb8u1ubuntu0.1
pam-python
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS
 before 1.0.6-1.1+deb10u1ubuntu0.1, plus listed versions
1.0.6-11.0.6-1.1+deb10u1build0.18.04.1
1.0.6-1.1+deb10u1ubuntu0.1

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
facts
aliasesEUVD
first indexedCVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2019-16729 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.8) in Pam-python Project Pam-python, published September 24, 2019. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.36%, the 29th percentile. Fixed in pam-python 1.0.7-1.

References

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