REDHAT-BUG-487216: Low severity Debian PAM vulnerability
An issue dealing with password changes, with respect to the MINDAYS field in /etc/shadow was reported on the Debian BTS (http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=514437) that affects all versions of PAM 1.x. Because of this, if an administrative user sets the password minimum days via chage or passwd, /etc/shadow is updated correctly, but PAM allows the user to change their password with no regard for the MINDAYS setting, effectively allowing them to re-use old passwords immediately and disregard any established password policies that should be enforced.
This is due to the fact that no minimum age password checks are done by PAM in 1.x; in the old versions it was done in unixverifyshadow() by checking the value of of spmin. In newer PAM this check is no longer there.
Affected Software
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of REDHAT-BUG-487216?
The severity of REDHAT-BUG-487216 is considered high due to its impact on password management.
How do I fix REDHAT-BUG-487216?
To fix REDHAT-BUG-487216, you should update your PAM version to the latest available release.
What versions of PAM are affected by REDHAT-BUG-487216?
All versions of PAM 1.x are affected by REDHAT-BUG-487216.
What are the implications of REDHAT-BUG-487216?
The implications of REDHAT-BUG-487216 include potential unauthorized access due to improper password handling.
Is there a workaround for REDHAT-BUG-487216?
Currently, there is no confirmed workaround for REDHAT-BUG-487216 other than upgrading the PAM package.