CVE-2019-16729
pam-python before 1.0.7-1 has an issue in regard to the default environment variable handling of Python, which could allow for local root escalation in certain PAM setups.
Does this matter?
High impact if exploited, but EPSS currently rates exploitation as unlikely (0.36%). Schedule it in the normal patch cycle and watch for a rise in EPSS or a public exploit.
Description
pam-python before 1.0.7-1 has an issue in regard to the default environment variable handling of Python, which could allow for local root escalation in certain PAM setups.
- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 0.36% probability · 29th percentile
- Public exploits
- None in Exploit-DB
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Affected
- pam-python project/pam-python · debian/debian linux · canonical/ubuntu linux
- Source
- cve@mitre.org
EPSS 0.4% since 27 October 2026; no change recorded yet. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
References
- https://bugzilla.suse.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1150510#c1Issue Tracking, Third Party Advisory
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/11/msg00020.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- https://sourceforge.net/p/pam-python/code/ci/0247ab687b4347cc52859ca461fb0126dd7e2ebe/Patch
- https://tracker.debian.org/news/1066790/accepted-pam-python-107-1-source-amd64-all-into-unstable/Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/4552-1/Third Party Advisory
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/4552-2/Third Party Advisory
- https://www.debian.org/security/2019/dsa-4555Third Party Advisory
- https://bugzilla.suse.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1150510#c1Issue Tracking, Third Party Advisory
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/11/msg00020.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- https://sourceforge.net/p/pam-python/code/ci/0247ab687b4347cc52859ca461fb0126dd7e2ebe/Patch
- https://tracker.debian.org/news/1066790/accepted-pam-python-107-1-source-amd64-all-into-unstable/Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/4552-1/Third Party Advisory
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/4552-2/Third Party Advisory
- https://www.debian.org/security/2019/dsa-4555Third Party Advisory
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.