7.8
CWE
732
Advisory Published
Updated

CVE-2019-19882

First published: Wed Dec 18 2019(Updated: )

shadow 4.8, in certain circumstances affecting at least Gentoo, Arch Linux, and Void Linux, allows local users to obtain root access because setuid programs are misconfigured. Specifically, this affects shadow 4.8 when compiled using --with-libpam but without explicitly passing --disable-account-tools-setuid, and without a PAM configuration suitable for use with setuid account management tools. This combination leads to account management tools (groupadd, groupdel, groupmod, useradd, userdel, usermod) that can easily be used by unprivileged local users to escalate privileges to root in multiple ways. This issue became much more relevant in approximately December 2019 when an unrelated bug was fixed (i.e., the chmod calls to suidusbins were fixed in the upstream Makefile which is now included in the release version 4.8).

Credit: cve@mitre.org

Affected SoftwareAffected VersionHow to fix
Shadow Project=4.8

Never miss a vulnerability like this again

Sign up to SecAlerts for real-time vulnerability data matched to your software, aggregated from hundreds of sources.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the severity of CVE-2019-19882?

    CVE-2019-19882 has a high severity rating due to its potential to allow local users to gain root access.

  • How do I fix CVE-2019-19882?

    To fix CVE-2019-19882, recompile your shadow package ensuring it is configured with --disable-account-too when using --with-libpam.

  • Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-19882?

    CVE-2019-19882 specifically affects shadow version 4.8 when compiled under certain conditions.

  • Which Linux distributions are impacted by CVE-2019-19882?

    CVE-2019-19882 impacts at least Gentoo, Arch Linux, and Void Linux.

  • What is the cause of CVE-2019-19882?

    CVE-2019-19882 is caused by misconfigured setuid programs in shadow 4.8.

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.
© 2025 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203