HOMEVULNERABILITIESCVE-2018-17953
HIGH

CVE-2018-17953

CWE-284Published: November 27, 2018· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

7.5
CVSS v3.1

Official Description

A incorrect variable in a SUSE specific patch for pam_access rule matching in PAM 1.3.0 in openSUSE Leap 15.0 and SUSE Linux Enterprise 15 could lead to pam_access rules not being applied (fail open).

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2018-17953 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.

The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns and worm-like propagation.

A successful exploit results in full integrity compromise (data manipulation), with a CVSS base score of 7.5.

CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown

Exploitability
Attack VectorNetwork
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges Req.None
User InteractionNone
ScopeUnchanged
Impact
ConfidentialityNone
IntegrityHigh
AvailabilityNone
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

Affected Vendors & Products

kernel1 product(s)
linux-pam
openSUSE1 product(s)
leap
SUSE1 product(s)
linux enterprise
Source: NVD CPE · 3 total CPE entries

Exploit & PoC Resources

NO KNOWN EXPLOITNo public exploit confirmed at this time
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All References (2)

Quick Facts

CVE IDCVE-2018-17953
CVSS Score7.5 / 10
SeverityHIGH
WeaknessCWE-284
CISA KEVNo
Affected3 vendor(s)
PublishedNov 27, 2018

Related CVEs (CWE-284)

Recommended Actions

  • Apply vendor patches immediately
  • Monitor CVE-2018-17953 in threat intel feeds
  • Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts
Data sourced from NVD (NIST), CISA KEV, and EPSS (FIRST). Analysis generated by CTIWATCH.COM. CVE data is provided under the NVD usage policy.