How severe is CVE-2015-3238?

CVE-2015-3238 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is low, integrity none, and availability low.

Is CVE-2015-3238 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 3% (84th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2015-3238?

CVE-2015-3238 primarily affects Linux-pam. In total, 2 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2015-3238?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2015-3238 published?

CVE-2015-3238 was published on 2015-08-24 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2015-3238

CVE-2015-3238 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Linux-pam with a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-200.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 6.5)
CVSS v2: 5.8
EPSS exploit prediction: 3% (84th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-200
Affected product: Linux-pam
Published: 2015-08-24
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

The _unix_run_helper_binary function in the pam_unix module in Linux-PAM (aka pam) before 1.2.1, when unable to directly access passwords, allows local users to enumerate usernames or cause a denial of service (hang) via a large password.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2015-3238?: The _unix_run_helper_binary function in the pam_unix module in Linux-PAM (aka pam) before 1.2.1, when unable to directly access passwords, allows local users to enumerate usernames or cause a denial of service (hang) via a large password.
How severe is CVE-2015-3238?: CVE-2015-3238 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is low, integrity none, and availability low.
Is CVE-2015-3238 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 3% (84th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2015-3238?: CVE-2015-3238 primarily affects Linux-pam. In total, 2 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2015-3238?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2015-3238 published?: CVE-2015-3238 was published on 2015-08-24 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (2)

cpe:2.3:a:linux-pam:linux-pam:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:sparc-opl_service_processor:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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