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.
CVE-2019-16729
HIGHNVD 7.87.8—
EchelonGraph scoreMEDIUM confidence
Score 7.8 from GitHub Security Advisory (severity: HIGH) published 2022-05-24. NVD baseline CVSS 7.8; sources differ by 0.0.
Triggered by: GitHub Security Advisory CVSS
Sources: epss, ghsa, nvd
7.8
EchelonGraph verdictPlan a fixSerious severity, but no confirmed exploitation yet.
- High severity, but no confirmed exploitation yet
CISA-KEV: Not listedEPSS: 0%CVSS: 7.8Exploit: NoneExposed: 0
A fix is available — apply it.
- CVSS v3
- 7.8
- EG Score
- 7.8(medium)
- EPSS
- 27.7%
- KEV
- Not listed
Published
September 24, 2019
Last Modified
November 21, 2024
References (14)
- cve@mitrehttps://bugzilla.suse.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1150510#c1
- cve@mitrehttps://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/11/msg00020.html
- cve@mitrehttps://sourceforge.net/p/pam-python/code/ci/0247ab687b4347cc52859ca461fb0126dd7e2ebe/
- cve@mitrehttps://tracker.debian.org/news/1066790/accepted-pam-python-107-1-source-amd64-all-into-unstable/
- cve@mitrehttps://usn.ubuntu.com/4552-1/
- cve@mitrehttps://usn.ubuntu.com/4552-2/
- cve@mitrehttps://www.debian.org/security/2019/dsa-4555
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108https://bugzilla.suse.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1150510#c1
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/11/msg00020.html
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108https://sourceforge.net/p/pam-python/code/ci/0247ab687b4347cc52859ca461fb0126dd7e2ebe/
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108https://tracker.debian.org/news/1066790/accepted-pam-python-107-1-source-amd64-all-into-unstable/
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108https://usn.ubuntu.com/4552-1/
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108https://usn.ubuntu.com/4552-2/
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108https://www.debian.org/security/2019/dsa-4555
Patch Availability(3)
| Vendor / Ecosystem | Fixed in / Patch | Released | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ubuntu | libpam-python (1.0.6-1.1+deb10u1build0.18.04.1) @ bionic | 2026-05-27 | ubuntu |
| ubuntu | libpam-python-doc (1.0.4-1.1+deb8u1build0.16.04.1) @ xenial | 2026-05-27 | ubuntu |
| ubuntu | libpam-python-doc (1.0.6-1.1+deb10u1ubuntu0.1) @ bionic | 2026-05-27 | ubuntu |
Patches are aggregated from vendor advisories (Red Hat, Microsoft, Cisco, GitHub) and package ecosystems (OSV, GHSA). Multiple rows for the same upstream release have been deduplicated.
Frequently asked(5)
What is CVE-2019-16729?
CVE-2019-16729 is a high vulnerability published on September 24, 2019. 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.
When was CVE-2019-16729 disclosed?
CVE-2019-16729 was first published in the National Vulnerability Database on September 24, 2019, with the most recent update on November 21, 2024. EchelonGraph re-ingests CVE updates from NVD on a 2-hour cycle, so this page reflects the latest published state.
Is CVE-2019-16729 actively exploited?
CVE-2019-16729 is not currently on CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. FIRST EPSS estimates a 27.7% percentile likelihood of exploitation in the next 30 days — higher percentiles indicate greater predicted risk.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2019-16729?
CVE-2019-16729 has a CVSS v3 base score of 7.8 (NVD).
How do I remediate CVE-2019-16729?
Patch to the fixed version published by the affected vendor. Where vendor advisories exist for CVE-2019-16729, EchelonGraph cross-links them in the Vendor Advisories panel below — those typically contain the canonical remediation steps, fixed version numbers, and any vendor-specific mitigations.
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