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CVE-2002-0638

6.2 · MEDIUM

setpwnam.c in the util-linux package, as included in Red Hat Linux 7.3 and earlier, and other operating systems, does not properly lock a temporary file when modifying /etc/passwd, which may allow…

Published Aug 12, 2002mandrakesoftEPSS 0.53%

Overview

CVE-2002-0638 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting mandrakesoft mandrake_single_network_firewall. It was published on August 12, 2002 and has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 6.2 (MEDIUM).

This vulnerability has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 6.2, rated MEDIUM. It requires local or adjacent network access to exploit. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.

Technical description

setpwnam.c in the util-linux package, as included in Red Hat Linux 7.3 and earlier, and other operating systems, does not properly lock a temporary file when modifying /etc/passwd, which may allow local users to gain privileges via a complex race condition that uses an open file descriptor in utility programs such as chfn and chsh.

Remediation

Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from mandrakesoft. Update mandrake_single_network_firewall to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.

Affected products

VendorProductVersionsStatus

References

Refftp://ftp.caldera.com/pub/security/OpenLinux/CSSA-2002-043.0.txtRefarchives.neohapsis.com/archives/bugtraq/2002-07/0357.htmlRefarchives.neohapsis.com/archives/bugtraq/2002-07/0396.htmlRefdistro.conectiva.com.br/atualizacoes/?id=a&anuncio=000523Refmarc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=102795787713996&w=2Refonline.securityfocus.com/advisories/4320Refrhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2002-132.htmlRefwww.iss.net/security_center/static/9709.phpRefwww.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/405955Refwww.linux-mandrake.com/en/security/2002/MDKSA-2002-047.php

How CyberStrike helps

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2002-0638?

CVE-2002-0638 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting mandrakesoft mandrake_single_network_firewall. It was published on August 12, 2002 and has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 6.2 (MEDIUM).

How severe is CVE-2002-0638?

This vulnerability has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 6.2, rated MEDIUM. It requires local or adjacent network access to exploit. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.

How do I fix or remediate CVE-2002-0638?

Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from mandrakesoft. Update mandrake_single_network_firewall to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.

How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2002-0638?

CyberStrike is an open-source, AI-augmented pentesting engine. Rather than flag a version number, it tests whether an issue like CVE-2002-0638 is actually reachable in your own applications and APIs, then verifies each finding before reporting it. That tells you if the weakness is a real, exploitable risk in your environment or a false positive you can safely deprioritize.

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