Gentoo Linux Advisory: Utempter

http://security.gentoo.org/

Severity: Normal
Title: Utempter symlink vulnerability
Date: May 13, 2004
Bugs: #49536
ID: 200405-05

Synopsis

Utempter contains a vulnerability that may allow local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack.

Background

Utempter is an application that allows non-privileged apps to write utmp (login) info, which otherwise needs root access.

Affected packages

Description

Utempter contains a vulnerability that may allow local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack.

Impact

This vulnerability may allow arbitrary files to be overwritten with root privileges.

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time. All users are advised to upgrade to the latest available version of utempter.

Resolution

All users of utempter should upgrade to the latest stable version:

    # emerge sync
    # emerge -pv ">=sys-apps/utempter-0.5.5.4"
    # emerge ">=sys-apps/utempter-0.5.5.4"

References

[ 1 ] CAN-2004-0233

http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CAN-2004-0233

Availability

This GLSA and any updates to it are available for viewing at the Gentoo Security Website:

http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200405-05.xml

Concerns?

Security is a primary focus of Gentoo Linux and ensuring the confidentiality and security of our users machines is of utmost importance to us. Any security concerns should be addressed to security@gentoo.org or alternatively, you may file a bug at http://bugs.gentoo.org.

License

Copyright 2004 Gentoo Technologies, Inc; referenced text belongs to its owner(s).

The contents of this document are licensed under the Creative Commons - Attribution / Share Alike license.

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0