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FreeBSD Security Advisory: Module: golddig

Written By
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Web Webster
Web Webster
May 10, 2000

Date: Tue, 9 May 2000 12:15:12 -0700
From: FreeBSD Security Officer security-officer@freebsd.org

To: BUGTRAQ@SECURITYFOCUS.COM
Subject: FreeBSD Security Advisory: FreeBSD-SA-00:16.golddig


FreeBSD-SA-00:16                                           Security Advisory
                                                                FreeBSD, Inc.

Topic:          golddig port allows users to overwrite local files

Category:       ports
Module:         golddig
Announced:      2000-05-09
Credits:        Discovered during internal ports collection auditing.
Affects:        Ports collection.
Corrected:      2000-04-30
Vendor status:  Email bounced.
FreeBSD only:   NO

I. Background

Golddig is an X11 game provided as part of the FreeBSD ports
collection.

II. Problem Description

The golddig port erroneously installs a level-creation utility
setuid root, which allows users to overwrite the contents of
arbitrary local files. It is not believed that any elevation of
privileges is possible with this vulnerability because the contents
of the file are a textual representation of a golddig game level
which is highly constrained.

The golddig 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 3200 third-party applications in a ready-to-install
format. The ports collection shipped with FreeBSD 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

An unprivileged local user can overwrite the contents of any
file, although they are restricted in the possible contents of the
new file.

If you have not chosen to install the golddig port/package, then
your system is not vulnerable to this problem.

IV. Workaround

One of the following:

1) Deinstall the golddig port/package, if you you have installed
it.

2) Remove the setuid bit from /usr/local/bin/makelev. This will
mean unprivileged users cannot create or modify golddig levels
except in their own directories.

V. Solution

One of the following:

1) Upgrade your entire ports collection and rebuild the golddig
port.

2) Reinstall a new package dated after the correction date,
obtained from:


ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/i386/packages-3-stable/games/golddig-2.0.tgz


ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/i386/packages-4-stable/games/golddig-2.0.tgz


ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/alpha/packages-4-stable/games/golddig-2.0.tgz


ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/i386/packages-5-current/games/golddig-2.0.tgz


ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/alpha/packages-5-current/games/golddig-2.0.tgz

Note: it may be several days before the updated packages are
available.

3) download a new port skeleton for the golddig port from:

http://www.freebsd.org/ports/

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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Web Webster

Web Webster

Web Webster has more than 20 years of writing and editorial experience in the tech sector. He’s written and edited news, demand generation, user-focused, and thought leadership content for business software solutions, consumer tech, and Linux Today, he edits and writes for a portfolio of tech industry news and analysis websites including webopedia.com, and DatabaseJournal.com.

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