CVE-2002-2221: Untrusted search path vulnerability in Pedro Lineu Orso chetcpasswd 2.4.1 and earlier allows local users to ga

Routine

MEDIUM 6.2DOWNGRADE

CVE-2002-2221 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 6.2) affecting chetcpasswd. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Untrusted search path vulnerability in Pedro Lineu Orso chetcpasswd 2.4.1 and earlier allows local users to gain privileges via a modified PATH that references a malicious cp binary. NOTE: this issue might overlap CVE-2006-6639.

Why this priority

No elevated risk signals yet

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	6.2 (Medium)
EPSS exploit chance	0.3% (top 78%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2002-12-31
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: chetcpasswd

Last updated 2026-06-16 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2002-12-31 05:00 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 22:00 UTCUpdated Record last modified

chetcpasswd chetcpasswd DOWNGRADE

Affected: 2.3.1 · 2.3.3 · 2.4.1

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.3.1

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy chetcpasswd || rpm -q chetcpasswd || chetcpasswd --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2.3.1 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison chetcpasswd sudo apt install chetcpasswd=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.3.1> sudo apt-mark hold chetcpasswd

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list chetcpasswd sudo dnf downgrade chetcpasswd-<VERSION_BEFORE_2.3.1> sudo dnf versionlock add chetcpasswd

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2002-2221?

chetcpasswd: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2002-2221 being exploited?

CVE-2002-2221 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2002-2221 affect?

CVE-2002-2221 affects chetcpasswd. Severity is medium (CVSS 6.2). Untrusted search path vulnerability in Pedro Lineu Orso chetcpasswd 2.4.1 and earlier allows local users to gain privileges via a modified PATH that references a malicious cp binary. NOTE: this issue might overlap CVE-2006-6639.

How urgent is CVE-2002-2221?

Priority 27/100. No elevated risk signals yet.

Related CVEs

CVE-2006-6685 HIGH 7.2 DOWNGRADE Heap-based buffer overflow in Pedro Lineu Orso chetcpasswd 2.3.3 allows local users to cause a denial of servi
CVE-2006-6684 HIGH 7.5 UPGRADE Heap-based buffer overflow in Pedro Lineu Orso chetcpasswd before 2.4 allows remote attackers to cause a denia
CVE-2006-6683 HIGH 7.8 UPGRADE Pedro Lineu Orso chetcpasswd 2.4.1 and earlier verifies and updates user accounts via custom code that process
CVE-2006-6682 MEDIUM 5.0 DOWNGRADE Pedro Lineu Orso chetcpasswd 2.3.3 provides a different error message when a request with a valid username fai
CVE-2006-6681 HIGH 7.5 DOWNGRADE Pedro Lineu Orso chetcpasswd 2.3.3 does not have a rate limit for client requests, which might allow remote at

References

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