# CVE-2015-3246

libuser before 0.56.13-8 and 0.60 before 0.60-7, as used in the userhelper program in the usermode package, directly modifies /etc/passwd, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (inconsistent file state) by causing an error during the modification. NOTE: this issue can be combined with CVE-2015-3245 to gain privileges.

- Page: https://www.vulneraibility.com/cve/CVE-2015-3246
- CVSS: 7.4
- Known exploited: yes, in CISA KEV since 2026-08-26; CISA due date 2026-09-09
- EPSS: 8.50%
- Public exploit code: 3 on Exploit-DB · 1 Metasploit module · 1 GitHub proof of concept (first 2015-07-27)
- CISA SSVC: exploitation active, automatable no, technical impact total (assessed 2026-08-27)
- Weakness: CWE-367
- Published: 2015-08-11

## Affected

- redhat:enterprise_linux
- opensuse:opensuse
- libuser_project:libuser

## References

- [other] http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/76022
- [advisory] http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2015-July/162947.html
- [exploit] https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/44633/
- [other] https://access.redhat.com/articles/1537873
- [advisory] http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-1482.html
- [advisory] http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2015-August/163044.html
- [advisory] http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2015-08/msg00000.html
- [other] https://www.qualys.com/2015/07/23/cve-2015-3245-cve-2015-3246/cve-2015-3245-cve-2015-3246.txt
- [other] http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1033040
- [advisory] http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-1483.html
- [advisory] https://blog.talosintelligence.com/uat-10147-chinese-speaking-adversary-integrates-agentic-ai-into-post-compromise-operations/
- [other] https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2015-3246

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Summary, impact and action are written by the vulneraibility.com AI analysis pipeline from the CVE record, NVD, CISA and FIRST data; verify against the references.