CVE Catalog

CVE-2006-3378

High
Published: Translated: NVD NIST

Summary

A vulnerability in the passwd command from the shadow package in Ubuntu 5.04 through 6.06 LTS: when called with the -f, -g, or -s flag, it does not check the return code of a setuid call. If setuid fails (e.g., due to PAM failures or resource limits), a local user might gain root privileges.

Risk Assessment

A local user could escalate privileges to root, leading to full system compromise and breach of confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Recommendation

Update the shadow package to the latest version containing the fix, or restrict access to the passwd command to trusted users only.

Related vulnerabilities

Original NVD description (English source)

passwd command in shadow in Ubuntu 5.04 through 6.06 LTS, when called with the -f, -g, or -s flag, does not check the return code of a setuid call, which might allow local users to gain root privileges if setuid fails in cases such as PAM failures or resource limits.

Vulnerability data from NVD (NIST) · CISA KEV · EPSS