SECURITY_THREAT_PULSE
LIVE
LAST UPDATED
FIRST SEEN
5 SOURCES ON THIS EVENT
▲ ACT NOWCVE-2015-3246 · CVSS 7.4

Red Hat Libuser: attackers can gain admin rights

AFFECTSRed Hat Libuser

OFFICIAL NAME: Red Hat Libuser Race Condition Vulnerability

WHAT IT IS · COMPUTERS, PHONES AND BROWSERSIt runs on staff computers, phones or browsers.

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TECHNICAL SUMMARY Red Hat libuser contains a race condition vulnerability that allows authenticated local users to corrupt the /etc/passwd file to cause a denial of service or privilege escalation.

WHY THIS VERDICT Attacks are confirmed. Ready-made attack tools are public.

HIGHEST CONFIRMED RUNG
EXPLOITED
CISA KEV
LISTED
EXPLOIT CODE
READY TO USE
// EVIDENCE LADDER

How far has it climbed?

CONFIRMED
REPORTED
NO EVIDENCE

  1. 01 TALK

    □ NO EVIDENCE YET
    NEWEST EVIDENCE NONE YET

    No evidence yet.

    SRC: NONE YET

  2. 02 EXPOSED

    □ NOT TRACKED YET
    NO SOURCE FOR THIS STEP YET

    We have no source that counts exposed systems yet. Internet scan data needs a partnership we do not have. No evidence here does not mean nothing is exposed.

  3. 03 TRIED

    ■ CONFIRMED
    NEWEST EVIDENCE · 2 INDEPENDENT SOURCES

    Attacks that worked are confirmed (step 4), so attempts count as confirmed too.

  4. 04 EXPLOITED

    ■ CONFIRMED
    NEWEST EVIDENCE · 2 INDEPENDENT SOURCES

    Red Hat libuser contains a race condition vulnerability that allows authenticated local users to corrupt the /etc/passwd file to cause a denial of service or privilege escalation. CISA Vulnrichment marks CVE-2015-3246 as actively exploited.

  5. 05 DAMAGE

    □ NOT TRACKED YET
    NO SOURCE FOR THIS STEP YET

    Breach notices and filings rarely name the flaw that was used, so we cannot link them to this event yet. No evidence here does not mean no harm.

// THE CLOCK

When each thing happened

  1. DISCLOSED
    CVE-2015-3246 published
  2. EXPLOIT CODE PUBLIC
    Exploit-DB
  3. FIRST ATTACK REPORT
    CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
  4. CISA KEV LISTING
    CISA KEV listing
  5. US FEDERAL DEADLINE
    CISA deadline for US federal agencies
Attacks were reported 4033 days after disclosure. CISA listed it 4033 days after disclosure.

THE FIX

CISA's instruction: apply the vendor's fix, or stop using the product if no fix exists. The deadline CISA set for US federal agencies, Sep 9, 2026, has passed. It is a US government deadline; use it as a guide.

// ASK YOUR TEAM

Questions to ask this week

// TIMELINE · PACIFIC TIME

How it unfolded

  1. JUL 23, 2015
    Metasploit exploit module: Libuser roothelper Privilege Escalation
  2. JUL 26, 2015
    Exploit-DB entry: Libuser Library - Multiple Vulnerabilities
  3. Attack activity. AUG 11, 2015
    CISA Vulnrichment marks CVE-2015-3246 as actively exploited
  4. MAY 15, 2018
    Exploit-DB entry: Libuser - 'roothelper' Local Privilege Escalation (Metasploit)
  5. Attack activity. AUG 25, 2026
    Red Hat Libuser Race Condition Vulnerability

SOURCES

  1. [1] CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities: Red Hat Libuser Race Condition Vulnerability, AUG 25
  2. [2] Exploit-DB: Exploit-DB entry: Libuser - 'roothelper' Local Privilege Escalation (Metasploit), MAY 15
  3. [3] CVE List V5 and CISA Vulnrichment: CISA Vulnrichment marks CVE-2015-3246 as actively exploited, AUG 11
  4. [4] Exploit-DB: Exploit-DB entry: Libuser Library - Multiple Vulnerabilities, JUL 26
  5. [5] Metasploit module metadata: Metasploit exploit module: Libuser roothelper Privilege Escalation, JUL 23