nslcd/pam.c in the nss-pam-ldapd 0.8.0 PAM module returns a success code when a user is not found in LDAP, which allows remote attackers to bypass authentication.
CVE-2011-0438
MEDIUMCVSS v2 · 6.86.8—
EchelonGraph scoreLOW confidence
This CVE was only ever scored under CVSS v2.0. NVD CVSS v2.0 base 6.8 — v2 rates that MEDIUM (v2 bands: LOW 0.0–3.9 / MEDIUM 4.0–6.9 / HIGH 7.0–10.0; v2 has no CRITICAL band). Vector AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P. CVSS v2 is an older, coarser metric than v3.1/v4.0 (no Scope, no User Interaction, no Attack Requirements), so it is not directly comparable to a v3 or v4 score. NVD has never re-scored this record under v3. EPSS predicts 1.5% exploitation probability in the next 30 days, which is reflected in EG Risk but does not lift the v2 base. Confidence: LOW.
Sources: epss, nvd_v2
6.8EG
EchelonGraph verdictMonitorLow exploitation likelihood right now — keep watching.
- Lower severity and no public exploit yet
CISA-KEV: Not listedEPSS PROB: 2%CVSS v2: 6.8Exploit: None knownExposed: 0
No vendor fix yet — apply a workaround or compensating control (WAF / firewall / segmentation) and watch for a patch.
- CVSS v2.0 (legacy)
- 6.8MEDIUMNVD never assigned a CVSS v3 rating to this CVE
- EG Score
- 6.8(low)
- EG Risk
- 36(Track)EG Risk 36/100SSVC: Track
EG Risk is EchelonGraph's 0–100 priority score: it fuses intrinsic severity with real-world exploitation and automatability so you can rank equal-severity CVEs and fix the most dangerous first. Higher = act sooner. Distinct from the 0–10 EG Score (severity).
How it’s computedSeverity68% × 45%Exploitation2% × 40%Automatability30% × 15%Action: Routine — remediate on your standard cadence. - EPSS PROB
- 2%
- EPSS %ILE
- 74%
- KEV
- Not listed
Published
March 15, 2011
Last Modified
April 29, 2026
References (12)
- cve@mitrehttp://arthurdejong.org/nss-pam-ldapd/news.html#20110309
- cve@mitrehttp://lists.arthurdejong.org/nss-pam-ldapd-announce/2011/attachments/txtVf3rHgt8qQ.txt
- cve@mitrehttp://lists.arthurdejong.org/nss-pam-ldapd-announce/2011/msg00000.html
- cve@mitrehttp://securityreason.com/securityalert/8132
- cve@mitrehttp://www.securityfocus.com/bid/46819
- cve@mitrehttps://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/66028
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108http://arthurdejong.org/nss-pam-ldapd/news.html#20110309
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108http://lists.arthurdejong.org/nss-pam-ldapd-announce/2011/attachments/txtVf3rHgt8qQ.txt
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108http://lists.arthurdejong.org/nss-pam-ldapd-announce/2011/msg00000.html
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108http://securityreason.com/securityalert/8132
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/46819
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/66028
Frequently asked(4)
What is CVE-2011-0438?
CVE-2011-0438 is a medium vulnerability published on March 15, 2011. nslcd/pam.c in the nss-pam-ldapd 0.8.0 PAM module returns a success code when a user is not found in LDAP, which allows remote attackers to bypass authentication.
When was CVE-2011-0438 disclosed?
CVE-2011-0438 was first published in the National Vulnerability Database on March 15, 2011, with the most recent update on April 29, 2026. EchelonGraph re-ingests CVE updates from NVD on a 2-hour cycle, so this page reflects the latest published state.
Is CVE-2011-0438 actively exploited?
CVE-2011-0438 is not currently on CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. FIRST EPSS estimates a 2% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, which ranks it in the top 26.4% of all scored CVEs.
How do I remediate CVE-2011-0438?
Patch to the fixed version published by the affected vendor. Where vendor advisories exist for CVE-2011-0438, EchelonGraph cross-links them in the Vendor Advisories panel below — those typically contain the canonical remediation steps, fixed version numbers, and any vendor-specific mitigations.
Dependency Blast Radius
Explore the affected products and dependency analysis for CVE-2011-0438
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