Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2000 18:46:59 -0200
From: secure@CONECTIVA.COM.BR
To: BUGTRAQ@SECURITYFOCUS.COM
Subject: [CLSA-2000:340] Conectiva Linux Security Announcement –
modutils
CONECTIVA LINUX SECURITY ANNOUNCEMENT
PACKAGE : modutils
SUMMARY : Local root exploit in modutils
DATE : 2000-11-22 18:46:00
ID : CLSA-2000:340
RELEVANT
RELEASES : 5.1
DESCRIPTION
The modutils package contains an utility called modprobe which is
normally used by the kernel when loading modules on demand. In
versions higher that 2.1.121, the modprobe utility could be tricked
into executing commands supplied as a module name. A normal user
cannot load kernel modules, but he/she can make the kernel at least
try to load a module with a given name by other means. If, as a
result, modprobe is called (with root privileges), the commands
will be executed as root or could at least be interpreted as
options for the modprobe program.
SOLUTION
All Conectiva Linux 5.1 users should upgrade immediately. Prior
versions use modutils 2.1.121 (or earlier) that does not contain
this vulnerability.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
This problem was found by Sebastian Krahmer and first reported to
Bugtraq by Michal Zalewski. We would like to thank Keith Owens for
releasing a new version that addresses the security issues.
DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINKS TO THE UPDATED PACKAGES
ftp://atualizacoes.conectiva.com.br/5.1/SRPMS/modutils-2.3.21-1cl.src.rpm
ftp://atualizacoes.conectiva.com.br/5.1/i386/modutils-2.3.21-1cl.i386.rpm
All packages are signed with Conectiva’s GPG key. The key can be
obtained at
http://www.conectiva.com.br/contato
All our advisories and generic update instructions can be viewed
at
http://www.conectiva.com.br/suporte/atualizacoes