CVE-2005-3503

pwdutils <3.0.4 - Privilege Escalation

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 1 public exploit for CVE-2005-3503. PoCs published by Hunger.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit leverages a local privilege escalation vulnerability in SuSE Linux's 'chfn' utility by manipulating the GECOS field to create a root user entry in /etc/passwd. It then uses 'su' to switch to the newly created root user.

Description

chfn in pwdutils 3.0.4 and earlier on SuSE Linux, and possibly other operating systems, does not properly check arguments for the GECOS field, which allows local users to gain privileges.

Exploits (1)

exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Hunger · bashlocallinux
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/1299

This exploit leverages a local privilege escalation vulnerability in SuSE Linux's 'chfn' utility by manipulating the GECOS field to create a root user entry in /etc/passwd. It then uses 'su' to switch to the newly created root user.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: SuSE Linux 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 10.0, Desktop 1.0, UnitedLinux 1.0, SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 8, 9
Auth required
Prerequisites: /usr/bin/chfn must be setuid root · attacker must have a valid user account
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (4)

Core 4
Core References
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vendor-advisory x_refsource_suse
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/415725/30/0/threaded
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_osvdb
http://www.osvdb.org/20525
Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/17469
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/15314

Scores

EPSS 0.0284
EPSS Percentile 84.8%

Details

Status published
Products (1)
pwdutils/pwdutils < 3.0.4
Published Nov 05, 2005
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026