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Amazon Linux 2023 : pam, pam-devel (ALAS2023-2025-1121)

high Nessus Plugin ID 243491

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Synopsis

The remote Amazon Linux 2023 host is missing a security update.

Description

It is, therefore, affected by a vulnerability as referenced in the ALAS2023-2025-1121 advisory.

 A flaw was found in linux-pam. The module pam_namespace may use access user-controlled paths without proper protection, allowing local users to elevate their privileges to root via multiple symlink attacks and race conditions. (CVE-2025-6020)

Tenable has extracted the preceding description block directly from the tested product security advisory.

Note that Nessus has not tested for this issue but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version number.

Solution

Run 'dnf update pam --releasever 2023.8.20250808' to update your system.

See Also

https://alas.aws.amazon.com//AL2023/ALAS2023-2025-1121.html

https://alas.aws.amazon.com/faqs.html

https://explore.alas.aws.amazon.com/CVE-2025-6020.html

Plugin Details

Severity: High

ID: 243491

File Name: al2023_ALAS2023-2025-1121.nasl

Version: 1.2

Type: local

Agent: unix

Published: 8/4/2025

Updated: 8/14/2025

Supported Sensors: Agentless Assessment, Continuous Assessment, Frictionless Assessment Agent, Frictionless Assessment AWS, Nessus Agent, Nessus

Risk Information

VPR

Risk Factor: Medium

Score: 6.7

CVSS v2

Risk Factor: Medium

Base Score: 6.8

Temporal Score: 5

Vector: CVSS2#AV:L/AC:L/Au:S/C:C/I:C/A:C

CVSS Score Source: CVE-2025-6020

CVSS v3

Risk Factor: High

Base Score: 7.8

Temporal Score: 6.8

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Temporal Vector: CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:O/RC:C

Vulnerability Information

CPE: cpe:/o:amazon:linux:2023, p-cpe:/a:amazon:linux:pam-devel, p-cpe:/a:amazon:linux:pam-docs, p-cpe:/a:amazon:linux:pam-debugsource, p-cpe:/a:amazon:linux:pam, p-cpe:/a:amazon:linux:pam-debuginfo

Required KB Items: Host/local_checks_enabled, Host/AmazonLinux/release, Host/AmazonLinux/rpm-list

Exploit Ease: No known exploits are available

Patch Publication Date: 8/4/2025

Vulnerability Publication Date: 6/17/2025

Reference Information

CVE: CVE-2025-6020