Date: Wed, 5 Jul 2000 16:09:39 -0700
From: FreeBSD Security Advisories security-advisories@freebsd.org
To: BUGTRAQ@SECURITYFOCUS.COM
Subject: FreeBSD Ports Security Advisory:
FreeBSD-SA-00:29.wu-ftpd
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FreeBSD-SA-00:29 Security Advisory
FreeBSD, Inc.
Topic: wu-ftpd port contains remote root compromise
Category: ports
Module: wu-ftpd
Announced: 2000-07-05
Credits: tf8
Affects: Ports collection.
Corrected: 2000-06-24
Vendor status: Contacted
FreeBSD only: NO
I. Background
wu-ftpd is a popular FTP server.
II. Problem Description
The wu-ftpd port, versions 2.6.0 and below, contains a
vulnerability which allows remote anonymous FTP users to execute
arbitrary code as root on the local machine, by inserting
string-formatting operators into command input, which are
incorrectly parsed by the FTP server.
The wu-ftpd port is not installed by default, nor is it “part of
FreeBSD” as such: it is part of the FreeBSD ports collection, which
contains over 3400 third-party applications in a ready-to-install
format. The ports collections shipped with FreeBSD 3.5 and 4.0
contains this problem since it was discovered after the
release.
FreeBSD makes no claim about the security of these third-party
applications, although an effort is underway to provide a security
audit of the most security-critical ports.
III. Impact
Remote anonymous FTP users can cause arbitrary commands to be
executed as root on the local machine.
If you have not chosen to install the wu-ftpd port/package, then
your system is not vulnerable to this problem.
IV. Workaround
Deinstall the wu-ftpd port/package, if you you have installed
it.
V. Solution
One of the following:
1) Upgrade your entire ports collection and rebuild the wu-ftpd
port.
2) Deinstall the old package and install a new package dated
after the correction date, obtained from:
ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/i386/packages-3-stable/ftp/wu-ftpd-2.6.0.tar.gz
ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/i386/packages-4-stable/ftp/wu-ftpd-2.6.0.tar.gz
ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/alpha/packages-4-stable/ftp/wu-ftpd-2.6.0.tar.gz
ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/i386/packages-5-current/ftp/wu-ftpd-2.6.0.tar.gz
ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/alpha/packages-5-current/ftp/wu-ftpd-2.6.0.tar.gz
NOTE: It may be several days before updated packages are
available. Be sure to check the file creation date on the package,
because the version number of the software has not changed.
3) download a new port skeleton for the wu-ftpd port from:
and use it to rebuild the port.
4) Use the portcheckout utility to automate option (3) above.
The portcheckout port is available in /usr/ports/devel/portcheckout
or the package can be obtained from:
ftp://ftp.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/packages/devel/portcheckout-1.0.tgz
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