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CriticalFix available

linux-pam — security advisory

Type: advisorySources: OSVAdvisory ID: ALPINE-CVE-2020-27780

A flaw was found in Linux-Pam in versions prior to 1.5.1 in the way it handle empty passwords for non-existing users. When the user doesn't exist PAM try to authenticate with root and in the case of an empty password it successfully authenticate.

Products
linux-pam
Affected versions
Not specified
Fixed versions
1.5.1, 1.5.1-r0
CVEs
CVE-2020-27780
Confirmed fixed CVEs
Not specified
Updated in this feed
1 Nov 2026, 12:09 UTC · Revision 1

Source evidence

ALPINE-CVE-2020-27780

core-osv · Original source

Published 18 Dec 2020, 00:15 UTC

A flaw was found in Linux-Pam in versions prior to 1.5.1 in the way it handle empty passwords for non-existing users. When the user doesn't exist PAM try to authenticate with root and in the case of an empty password it successfully authenticate.

osv:ALPINE-CVE-2020-27780

linux-pam

Fixed versions: 1.5.1

linux-pam

Fixed versions: 1.5.1-r0

linux-pam

Fixed versions: 1.5.1-r0

linux-pam

Fixed versions: 1.5.1-r0

linux-pam

Fixed versions: 1.5.1-r0

linux-pam

Fixed versions: 1.5.1-r0

linux-pam

Fixed versions: 1.5.1-r0

linux-pam

Fixed versions: 1.5.1-r0

linux-pam

Fixed versions: 1.5.1-r0

linux-pam

Fixed versions: 1.5.1-r0

linux-pam

Fixed versions: 1.5.1-r0

linux-pam

Fixed versions: 1.5.1-r0

Complete source record
{
  "id": "c16085fafe765651a0baffbe752a8d4076df27480eefe1d55f3174a8482796a1",
  "url": "https://osv.dev/vulnerability/ALPINE-CVE-2020-27780",
  "method": "structured",
  "payload": {
    "kind": "advisory",
    "title": "ALPINE-CVE-2020-27780",
    "summary": "A flaw was found in Linux-Pam in versions prior to 1.5.1 in the way it handle empty passwords for non-existing users. When the user doesn't exist PAM try to authenticate with root and in the case of an empty password it successfully authenticate.",
    "evidence": "osv:ALPINE-CVE-2020-27780",
    "products": [
      {
        "name": {
          "value": "linux-pam",
          "evidence": "/affected/0/package/name"
        },
        "prerequisites": [],
        "fixed_versions": [
          {
            "value": "1.5.1",
            "evidence": "/affected/0/ranges"
          }
        ],
        "affected_versions": []
      },
      {
        "name": {
          "value": "linux-pam",
          "evidence": "/affected/1/package/name"
        },
        "prerequisites": [],
        "fixed_versions": [
          {
            "value": "1.5.1-r0",
            "evidence": "/affected/1/ranges"
          }
        ],
        "affected_versions": []
      },
      {
        "name": {
          "value": "linux-pam",
          "evidence": "/affected/2/package/name"
        },
        "prerequisites": [],
        "fixed_versions": [
          {
            "value": "1.5.1-r0",
            "evidence": "/affected/2/ranges"
          }
        ],
        "affected_versions": []
      },
      {
        "name": {
          "value": "linux-pam",
          "evidence": "/affected/3/package/name"
        },
        "prerequisites": [],
        "fixed_versions": [
          {
            "value": "1.5.1-r0",
            "evidence": "/affected/3/ranges"
          }
        ],
        "affected_versions": []
      },
      {
        "name": {
          "value": "linux-pam",
          "evidence": "/affected/4/package/name"
        },
        "prerequisites": [],
        "fixed_versions": [
          {
            "value": "1.5.1-r0",
            "evidence": "/affected/4/ranges"
          }
        ],
        "affected_versions": []
      },
      {
        "name": {
          "value": "linux-pam",
          "evidence": "/affected/5/package/name"
        },
        "prerequisites": [],
        "fixed_versions": [
          {
            "value": "1.5.1-r0",
            "evidence": "/affected/5/ranges"
          }
        ],
        "affected_versions": []
      },
      {
        "name": {
          "value": "linux-pam",
          "evidence": "/affected/6/package/name"
        },
        "prerequisites": [],
        "fixed_versions": [
          {
            "value": "1.5.1-r0",
            "evidence": "/affected/6/ranges"
          }
        ],
        "affected_versions": []
      },
      {
        "name": {
          "value": "linux-pam",
          "evidence": "/affected/7/package/name"
        },
        "prerequisites": [],
        "fixed_versions": [
          {
            "value": "1.5.1-r0",
            "evidence": "/affected/7/ranges"
          }
        ],
        "affected_versions": []
      },
      {
        "name": {
          "value": "linux-pam",
          "evidence": "/affected/8/package/name"
        },
        "prerequisites": [],
        "fixed_versions": [
          {
            "value": "1.5.1-r0",
            "evidence": "/affected/8/ranges"
          }
        ],
        "affected_versions": []
      },
      {
        "name": {
          "value": "linux-pam",
          "evidence": "/affected/9/package/name"
        },
        "prerequisites": [],
        "fixed_versions": [
          {
            "value": "1.5.1-r0",
            "evidence": "/affected/9/ranges"
          }
        ],
        "affected_versions": []
      },
      {
        "name": {
          "value": "linux-pam",
          "evidence": "/affected/10/package/name"
        },
        "prerequisites": [],
        "fixed_versions": [
          {
            "value": "1.5.1-r0",
            "evidence": "/affected/10/ranges"
          }
        ],
        "affected_versions": []
      },
      {
        "name": {
          "value": "linux-pam",
          "evidence": "/affected/11/package/name"
        },
        "prerequisites": [],
        "fixed_versions": [
          {
            "value": "1.5.1-r0",
            "evidence": "/affected/11/ranges"
          }
        ],
        "affected_versions": []
      }
    ],
    "severity": "critical",
    "structured": {
      "id": "ALPINE-CVE-2020-27780",
      "aliases": [
        "ALPINE-CVE-2020-27780"
      ],
      "metrics": [
        {
          "type": "CVSS_V3",
          "score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
        }
      ],
      "affected": [
        {
          "ranges": [
            {
              "type": "ECOSYSTEM",
              "events": [
                {
                  "introduced": "1.5.0"
                },
                {
                  "fixed": "1.5.1"
                }
              ]
            }
          ],
          "package": {
            "name": "linux-pam",
            "purl": "pkg:apk/alpine/linux-pam?arch=source",
            "ecosystem": "Alpine:v3.13"
          },
          "database_specific": {
            "source": "https://storage.googleapis.com/cve-osv-conversion/alpine/ALPINE-CVE-2020-27780.json"
          },
          "ecosystem_specific": {}
        },
        {
          "ranges": [
            {
              "type": "ECOSYSTEM",
              "events": [
                {
                  "introduced": "1.5.0"
                },
                {
                  "fixed": "1.5.1-r0"
                }
              ]
            }
          ],
          "package": {
            "name": "linux-pam",
            "purl": "pkg:apk/alpine/linux-pam?arch=source",
            "ecosystem": "Alpine:v3.14"
          },
          "database_specific": {
            "source": "https://storage.googleapis.com/cve-osv-conversion/alpine/ALPINE-CVE-2020-27780.json"
          },
          "ecosystem_specific": {}
        },
        {
          "ranges": [
            {
              "type": "ECOSYSTEM",
              "events": [
                {
                  "introduced": "1.5.0"
                },
                {
                  "fixed": "1.5.1-r0"
                }
              ]
            }
          ],
          "package": {
            "name": "linux-pam",
            "purl": "pkg:apk/alpine/linux-pam?arch=source",
            "ecosystem": "Alpine:v3.15"
          },
          "database_specific": {
            "source": "https://storage.googleapis.com/cve-osv-conversion/alpine/ALPINE-CVE-2020-27780.json"
          },
          "ecosystem_specific": {}
        },
        {
          "ranges": [
            {
              "type": "ECOSYSTEM",
              "events": [
                {
                  "introduced": "1.5.0"
                },
                {
                  "fixed": "1.5.1-r0"
                }
              ]
            }
          ],
          "package": {
            "name": "linux-pam",
            "purl": "pkg:apk/alpine/linux-pam?arch=source",
            "ecosystem": "Alpine:v3.16"
          },
          "database_specific": {
            "source": "https://storage.googleapis.com/cve-osv-conversion/alpine/ALPINE-CVE-2020-27780.json"
          },
          "ecosystem_specific": {}
        },
        {
          "ranges": [
            {
              "type": "ECOSYSTEM",
              "events": [
                {
                  "introduced": "1.5.0"
                },
                {
                  "fixed": "1.5.1-r0"
                }
              ]
            }
          ],
          "package": {
            "name": "linux-pam",
            "purl": "pkg:apk/alpine/linux-pam?arch=source",
            "ecosystem": "Alpine:v3.17"
          },
          "database_specific": {
            "source": "https://storage.googleapis.com/cve-osv-conversion/alpine/ALPINE-CVE-2020-27780.json"
          },
          "ecosystem_specific": {}
        },
        {
          "ranges": [
            {
              "type": "ECOSYSTEM",
              "events": [
                {
                  "introduced": "1.5.0"
                },
                {
                  "fixed": "1.5.1-r0"
                }
              ]
            }
          ],
          "package": {
            "name": "linux-pam",
            "purl": "pkg:apk/alpine/linux-pam?arch=source",
            "ecosystem": "Alpine:v3.18"
          },
          "database_specific": {
            "source": "https://storage.googleapis.com/cve-osv-conversion/alpine/ALPINE-CVE-2020-27780.json"
          },
          "ecosystem_specific": {}
        },
        {
          "ranges": [
            {
              "type": "ECOSYSTEM",
              "events": [
                {
                  "introduced": "1.5.0"
                },
                {
                  "fixed": "1.5.1-r0"
                }
              ]
            }
          ],
          "package": {
            "name": "linux-pam",
            "purl": "pkg:apk/alpine/linux-pam?arch=source",
            "ecosystem": "Alpine:v3.19"
          },
          "database_specific": {
            "source": "https://storage.googleapis.com/cve-osv-conversion/alpine/ALPINE-CVE-2020-27780.json"
          },
          "ecosystem_specific": {}
        },
        {
          "ranges": [
            {
              "type": "ECOSYSTEM",
              "events": [
                {
                  "introduced": "1.5.0"
                },
                {
                  "fixed": "1.5.1-r0"
                }
              ]
            }
          ],
          "package": {
            "name": "linux-pam",
            "purl": "pkg:apk/alpine/linux-pam?arch=source",
            "ecosystem": "Alpine:v3.20"
          },
          "database_specific": {
            "source": "https://storage.googleapis.com/cve-osv-conversion/alpine/ALPINE-CVE-2020-27780.json"
          },
          "ecosystem_specific": {}
        },
        {
          "ranges": [
            {
              "type": "ECOSYSTEM",
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              ]
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          ],
          "package": {
            "name": "linux-pam",
            "purl": "pkg:apk/alpine/linux-pam?arch=source",
            "ecosystem": "Alpine:v3.21"
          },
          "database_specific": {
            "source": "https://storage.googleapis.com/cve-osv-conversion/alpine/ALPINE-CVE-2020-27780.json"
          },
          "ecosystem_specific": {}
        },
        {
          "ranges": [
            {
              "type": "ECOSYSTEM",
              "events": [
                {
                  "introduced": "1.5.0"
                },
                {
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                }
              ]
            }
          ],
          "package": {
            "name": "linux-pam",
            "purl": "pkg:apk/alpine/linux-pam?arch=source",
            "ecosystem": "Alpine:v3.22"
          },
          "database_specific": {
            "source": "https://storage.googleapis.com/cve-osv-conversion/alpine/ALPINE-CVE-2020-27780.json"
          },
          "ecosystem_specific": {}
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        {
          "ranges": [
            {
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                }
              ]
            }
          ],
          "package": {
            "name": "linux-pam",
            "purl": "pkg:apk/alpine/linux-pam?arch=source",
            "ecosystem": "Alpine:v3.23"
          },
          "database_specific": {
            "source": "https://storage.googleapis.com/cve-osv-conversion/alpine/ALPINE-CVE-2020-27780.json"
          },
          "ecosystem_specific": {}
        },
        {
          "ranges": [
            {
              "type": "ECOSYSTEM",
              "events": [
                {
                  "introduced": "1.5.0"
                },
                {
                  "fixed": "1.5.1-r0"
                }
              ]
            }
          ],
          "package": {
            "name": "linux-pam",
            "purl": "pkg:apk/alpine/linux-pam?arch=source",
            "ecosystem": "Alpine:v3.24"
          },
          "database_specific": {
            "source": "https://storage.googleapis.com/cve-osv-conversion/alpine/ALPINE-CVE-2020-27780.json"
          },
          "ecosystem_specific": {}
        }
      ],
      "modified": "2026-10-26T11:17:55.163271128Z",
      "provider": "osv",
      "upstream": [
        "CVE-2020-27780"
      ],
      "references": [
        "https://security.alpinelinux.org/vuln/CVE-2020-27780"
      ]
    },
    "related_cves": [
      {
        "value": "CVE-2020-27780",
        "evidence": "/upstream"
      }
    ],
    "security_relevant": true,
    "severity_evidence": "/severity/0/score"
  },
  "source_id": "core-osv",
  "document_id": 450581,
  "published_at": "2020-12-18T00:15:14.33+00:00"
}