CVE-2020-27780 : What You Need to Know

A flaw was found in Linux-Pam in versions prior to 1.5.1 that mishandles empty passwords for non-existing users, allowing successful authentication with root.

Understanding CVE-2020-27780

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in Linux-Pam that could be exploited to authenticate with root using empty passwords.

What is CVE-2020-27780?

The vulnerability in Linux-Pam versions before 1.5.1 enables successful authentication with root when attempting to authenticate non-existing users with empty passwords.

The Impact of CVE-2020-27780

The vulnerability poses a security risk by allowing unauthorized access to the root account through empty password authentication.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-27780

Linux-Pam vulnerability details and affected systems.

Vulnerability Description

Linux-Pam versions prior to 1.5.1 mishandle empty passwords for non-existing users, leading to successful authentication with root.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: pam
Vendor: n/a
Versions Affected: pam 1.5.1

Exploitation Mechanism

The flaw allows an attacker to authenticate with the root account by exploiting the mishandling of empty passwords for non-existing users.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to mitigate the CVE-2020-27780 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Linux-Pam to version 1.5.1 or later to address the vulnerability.
Monitor for any unauthorized access attempts to the root account.

Long-Term Security Practices

Enforce strong password policies to prevent the use of empty passwords.
Regularly review and update authentication mechanisms to enhance security.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by the Linux-Pam maintainers to fix the vulnerability and enhance system security.