CVE-2015-9542Network attack vector

Application crash via password-length stack overflow

Published Feb 24, 2020 · Updated Aug 6, 2024

Stack-based buffer overflow in FreeRADIUS pam_radius 1.4.0 allows remote attackers to crash applications via a crafted password. The add_password function copies strlen(password) bytes into a stack buffer sized to a separately capped length, so an overlong password writes past the buffer. The application must load pam_radius for authentication; code execution depends on build and runtime factors, while fortified EPEL 6 builds crash instead.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability3.54%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Stack-based buffer overflow in FreeRADIUS pam_radius 1.4.0 allows remote attackers to crash applications via a crafted password. The add_password function copies strlen(password) bytes into a stack buffer sized to a separately capped length, so an overlong password writes past the buffer. The application must load pam_radius for authentication; code execution depends on build and runtime factors, while fortified EPEL 6 builds crash instead.

The record

CVE
CVE-2015-9542
Published
Feb 24, 2020
Updated
Aug 6, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-787, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 24, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 6, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1499.004Endpoint Denial of Service: Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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