Caldera Advisory: Race Condition in fileutils

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                Caldera International, Inc.  Security Advisory

Subject:                Linux: Race condition in fileutils
Advisory number:        CSSA-2002-018.0
Issue date:             2002 April 26
Cross reference:
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1. Problem Description

        A race condition in various utilities from the GNU fileutils
        package may cause a root user to delete the whole filesystem.


2. Vulnerable Supported Versions

        System                          Package
        ----------------------------------------------------------------------

        OpenLinux 3.1.1 Server          prior to fileutils-4.1-4.i386.rpm

        OpenLinux 3.1.1 Workstation     prior to fileutils-4.1-4.i386.rpm

        OpenLinux 3.1 Server            prior to fileutils-4.1-4.i386.rpm

        OpenLinux 3.1 Workstation       prior to fileutils-4.1-4.i386.rpm


3. Solution

        The proper solution is to install the latest packages.


4. OpenLinux 3.1.1 Server

        4.1 Package Location

        ftp://ftp.caldera.com/pub/updates/OpenLinux/3.1.1/Server/current/RPMS

        4.2 Packages

        608a5485dd9a8799795254ba7d2089da        fileutils-4.1-4.i386.rpm

        4.3 Installation

        rpm -Fvh fileutils-4.1-4.i386.rpm

        4.4 Source Package Location

        ftp://ftp.caldera.com/pub/updates/OpenLinux/3.1.1/Server/current/SRPMS

        4.5 Source Packages

        c44a43f1ce810a01978ce2e8efadadbf        fileutils-4.1-4.src.rpm


5. OpenLinux 3.1.1 Workstation

        5.1 Package Location

        ftp://ftp.caldera.com/pub/updates/OpenLinux/3.1.1/Workstation/current/RPMS

        5.2 Packages

        f10c905587b4221fc794cefaf262e9ee        fileutils-4.1-4.i386.rpm

        5.3 Installation

        rpm -Fvh fileutils-4.1-4.i386.rpm

        5.4 Source Package Location

        ftp://ftp.caldera.com/pub/updates/OpenLinux/3.1.1/Workstation/current/SRPMS

        5.5 Source Packages

        7e5519acdca5c17d12b3598847ec1ded        fileutils-4.1-4.src.rpm


6. OpenLinux 3.1 Server

        6.1 Package Location

        ftp://ftp.caldera.com/pub/updates/OpenLinux/3.1/Server/current/RPMS

        6.2 Packages

        334154c1635b50ad81a2f1b841ccadd8        fileutils-4.1-4.i386.rpm

        6.3 Installation

        rpm -Fvh fileutils-4.1-4.i386.rpm

        6.4 Source Package Location

        ftp://ftp.caldera.com/pub/updates/OpenLinux/3.1/Server/current/SRPMS

        6.5 Source Packages

        6a12bbcaefb252eac3fe4b79464881e4        fileutils-4.1-4.src.rpm


7. OpenLinux 3.1 Workstation

        7.1 Package Location

        ftp://ftp.caldera.com/pub/updates/OpenLinux/3.1/Workstation/current/RPMS

        7.2 Packages

        2db4e5565fc7d38ee5cdf3be57f86301        fileutils-4.1-4.i386.rpm

        7.3 Installation

        rpm -Fvh fileutils-4.1-4.i386.rpm

        7.4 Source Package Location

        ftp://ftp.caldera.com/pub/updates/OpenLinux/3.1/Workstation/current/SRPMS

        7.5 Source Packages

        1b5ef3933f229b68cd8e24fb75c5a0de        fileutils-4.1-4.src.rpm


8. References

        Specific references for this advisory:

                http://mail.gnu.org/pipermail/bug-fileutils/2002-March/002440.html
                http://isec.pl/vulnerabilities/0002.txt Wojciech Purczynski (iSEC

        Caldera OpenLinux security resources:
                http://www.caldera.com/support/security/index.html

        Caldera UNIX security resources:
                http://stage.caldera.com/support/security/

        This security fix closes Caldera incidents sr862917, fz520627,
        erg712018.

9. Disclaimer

        Caldera International, Inc. is not responsible for the misuse
        of any of the information we provide on this website and/or
        through our security advisories. Our advisories are a service
        to our customers intended to promote secure installation and
        use of Caldera products.


10. Acknowledgements

        Wojciech Purczynski (iSEC Security Research, http://isec.pl)
        reported this vulnerability. 

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