GENTOO LINUX SECURITY ANNOUNCEMENT 200312-01
| GLSA: | 200312-01 |
| summary: | rsync.gentoo.org rotation server compromised |
| severity: | normal |
| date: | 2003-12-02 |
| CVE: | None |
| exploit: | remote |
DESCRIPTION:
On December 2nd at approximately 03:45 UTC, one of the servers
that makes up the rsync.gentoo.org rotation was compromised via a
remote exploit. At this point, we are still performing forensic
analysis. However, the compromised system had both an IDS and a
file integrity checker installed and we have a very detailed
forensic trail of what happened once the box was breached, so we
are reasonably confident that the portage tree stored on that box
wasunaffected.
The attacker appears to have installed a rootkit and
modified/deleted some files to cover their tracks, but left the
server otherwise untouched. The box was in a compromised state for
approximately one hour before it was discovered and shut down.
During this time, approximately 20 users synchronized against the
portage mirror stored on this box. The method used to gain access
to the box remotely is still under investigation. We will release
more details once we have ascertained the cause of the remote
exploit.
This box is not an official Gentoo infrastructure box and is
instead donated by a sponsor. The box provides other services as
well and the sponsor has requested that we not publicly identify
the box at this time. Because the Gentoo part of this box appears
to be unaffected by this exploit, we are currently honoring the
sponsor’s request. That said, if at any point, we determine that
any file in the portage tree was modified in any way, we will
release full details about the compromised server.
SOLUTION:
Again, based on the forensic analysis done so far, we are
reasonably confident that no files within the Portage tree on the
box were affected. However, the server has been removed from all
rsync.*.gentoo.org rotations and will remain so until the forensic
analysis has been completed and the box has been wiped and rebuilt.
Thus, users preferring an extra level of security may ensure that
they have a correct and accurate portage tree by running:
emerge sync
Which will perform a sync against another server and ensure that
all files are up to date.