Misconfigured /etc/passwd file may share folders unexpectedly

Description

If a user in /etc/passwd is misconfigured to have an empty home
directory (::) and the automated [homes] share is enabled, or an
explicit share is created with that username, then any client connecting
to that share name will be able to access the whole filesystem from
root (/) on downwards, subject to local file system permissions
applied to the connecting user.

Patch Availability

Patches addressing both these issues have been posted to:

http://www.samba.org/samba/security/

Additionally, Samba 3.0.37, 3.2.15, 3.3.8 and 3.4.2 have been issued
as security releases to correct the defect. Samba administrators are
advised to upgrade to these releases or apply the patch as soon
as possible.

Workaround

Do not configure users in /etc/passwd with a blank home
directory field.

Credits

Originally reported by J. David Hester of LCG Systems National
Institutes of Health and forwarded to the Samba Team by Apple
Computer Inc.

Patches provided by Apple and Jeremy Allison of the Samba team.

== Our Code, Our Bugs, Our Responsibility.
== The Samba Team