Caldera Systems, Inc. Security Advisory
Subject: various security problems with majordomo
Advisory number: CSSA-2000-006.0
Issue date: 2000 March, 7
Cross reference: CSSA-1999-039.0
1. Problem Description
This advisory is a re-release of CSSA-1999-039.0, additionally
covering the OpenLinux eServer platform. Users of the OpenLinux 2.3
Desktop product do not need to take additional actions if you have
already upgraded to the inn package as update 018.
There are several bugs in majordomo that allow arbitrary users
to execute commands with the privilege of majordomo. If the
sendmail aliases file contains aliases that invoke majordomo, a
compromise of additional system accounts is possible, which may
further on lead to a root compromise. An immediate root exploit has
not been found however.
2. Vulnerable Versions
System Package
-----------------------------------------------------------
OpenLinux Desktop 2.3 All packages previous to
majordomo-1.94.5-1
(see update 018)
OpenLinux eServer 2.3 All packages previous to
majordomo-1.94.5-1
3. Solution
Workaround:
Change the group of the wrapper excutable to daemon, and turn
off world execute rights:
chgrp daemon /usr/lib/majordomo/wrapper chmod o-x
/usr/lib/majordomo/wrapper
The proper solution is to upgrade to the latest packages
rpm -U majordomo-1.94.5-1.i386.rpm
If you do not use majordomo, we recommend to remove the package
entirely using
rpm -e majordomo
4. OpenLinux Desktop 2.3
Fixed packages released with update 018
5. OpenLinux eServer 2.3
5.1 Location of Fixed Packages
The upgrade packages can be found on Caldera’s FTP site at:
ftp://ftp.calderasystems.com/pub/eServer/updates/2.3/current/RPMS/
The corresponding source code package can be found at:
ftp://ftp.calderaystems.com/pub/eServer/updates/2.3/current/SRPMS
5.2 Verification
b4398888ab9a7d1f2fff43015483a64c RPMS/majordomo-1.94.5-1.i386.rpm
d04530bd2710cdd336f08677368efcae SRPMS/majordomo-1.94.5-1.src.rpm
5.3 Installing Fixed Packages
Upgrade the affected packages with the following commands:
rpm -F majordomo-1.94.5-1.i386.rpm
6. References
This and other Caldera security resources are located at:
http://www.calderasystems.com/support/security/index.html
This security fix closes Caldera’s internal Problem Report
5615
7. Disclaimer
Caldera Systems, 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
OpenLinux.