CVE-2001-1017: High severity FreeBSD FreeBSD vulnerability

Published Sep 4, 2001
·
Updated

rmuser utility in FreeBSD 4.2 and 4.3 creates a copy of the master.passwd file with world-readable permissions while updating the original file, which could allow local users to gain privileges by reading the copied file while rmuser is running, obtain the password hashes, and crack the passwords.

Affected Software

2 affected components
FreeBSD FreeBSD=4.2
FreeBSD FreeBSD=4.3

Event History

Sep 4, 2001
CVE Published
04:00 AM
Mar 9, 2002
CVE Published
via MITRE·10:00 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·10:00 AM
Description

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2001-1017?

CVE-2001-1017 is considered a high severity vulnerability due to its potential for privilege escalation.

2

How do I fix CVE-2001-1017?

To remediate CVE-2001-1017, ensure that the rmuser utility does not create world-readable copies of sensitive files during execution.

3

Who is affected by CVE-2001-1017?

CVE-2001-1017 affects users of FreeBSD versions 4.2 and 4.3.

4

What can attackers do with CVE-2001-1017?

Attackers can exploit CVE-2001-1017 to read hashed passwords from the copied master.passwd file, potentially allowing them to crack user passwords.

5

When was CVE-2001-1017 discovered?

CVE-2001-1017 was disclosed in 2001 and relates to vulnerabilities present in older versions of FreeBSD.

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203