CVE-2002-0638
setpwnam.c in the util-linux package, as included in Red Hat Linux 7.3 and earlier, and other...
setpwnam.c in the util-linux package, as included in Red Hat Linux 7.3 and earlier, and other operating systems, does not properly lock a temporary file when modifying /etc/passwd, which may allow local users to gain privileges via a complex race condition that uses an open file descriptor in utility programs such as chfn and chsh.
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
setpwnam.c in the util-linux package, as included in Red Hat Linux 7.3 and earlier, and other operating systems, does not properly lock a temporary file when modifying /etc/passwd, which may allow local users to gain privileges via a complex race condition that uses an open file descriptor in utility programs such as chfn and chsh.
- Record
CVE-2002-0638- CVSS 2.0
- 6.2 Medium
AV:L/AC:H/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C - Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List No score
setpwnam.c in the util-linux package, as included in Red Hat Linux 7.3 and earlier, and other operating systems, does not properly lock a temporary file when modifying /etc/passwd, which may allow local users to gain privileges via a complex race condition that uses an open file descriptor in utility programs such as chfn and chsh.
- Record
CVE-2002-0638- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2002-0632 No score
setpwnam.c in the util-linux package, as included in Red Hat Linux 7.3 and earlier, and other operating systems, does not properly lock a temporary file when modifying /etc/passwd, which may allow local users to gain privileges via a complex race condition that uses an open file descriptor in utility programs such as chfn and chsh.
- Record
EUVD-2002-0632- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-gmmv-6j82-fwgw No score
setpwnam.c in the util-linux package, as included in Red Hat Linux 7.3 and earlier, and other...
setpwnam.c in the util-linux package, as included in Red Hat Linux 7.3 and earlier, and other operating systems, does not properly lock a temporary file when modifying /etc/passwd, which may allow local users to gain privileges via a complex race condition that uses an open file descriptor in utility programs such as chfn and chsh.
- Record
GHSA-gmmv-6j82-fwgw- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2002-0638 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 6.2) in Redhat Linux, published August 12, 2002. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.53%, the 44th percentile. No source names a fixed version.
References
securityfocus.com/bid/5344
iss.net/security_center/static/9709.php
linux-mandrake.com/en/security/2002/MDKSA-2002-047.php
rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2002-132.html
kb.cert.org/vuls/id/405955
archives.neohapsis.com/archives/bugtraq/2002-07/0357.html
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distro.conectiva.com.br/atualizacoes?id=a&anuncio=000523
online.securityfocus.com/advisories/4320
marc.info?l=bugtraq&m=102795787713996&w=2
redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2002-137.html
osvdb.org/5164
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2002-0638
github.com/advisories/GHSA-gmmv-6j82-fwgw