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Gentoo Linux Security Advisory GLSA 200506-08

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                                        http://security.gentoo.org/

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Severity: Normal
Title: GNU shtool, ocaml-mysql: Insecure temporary file creation
Date: June 11, 2005
Bugs: #93782, #93784
ID: 200506-08

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Synopsis

GNU shtool and ocaml-mysql are vulnerable to symlink attacks,
potentially allowing a local user to overwrite arbitrary files.

Background

GNU shtool is a compilation of small shell scripts into a single shell
tool. The ocaml-mysql package includes the GNU shtool code.

Affected packages

-------------------------------------------------------------------
 Package             /  Vulnerable  /                   Unaffected
-------------------------------------------------------------------

1 dev-util/shtool < 2.0.1-r2 >= 2.0.1-r2
2 dev-ml/ocaml-mysql < 1.0.3-r1 >= 1.0.3-r1
-------------------------------------------------------------------
2 affected packages on all of their supported architectures.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Description

Eric Romang has discovered that GNU shtool insecurely creates temporary
files with predictable filenames (CAN-2005-1751). On closer inspection,
Gentoo Security discovered that the shtool temporary file, once
created, was being reused insecurely (CAN-2005-1759).

Impact

A local attacker could create symbolic links in the temporary files
directory, pointing to a valid file somewhere on the filesystem. When a
GNU shtool script is executed, this would result in the file being
overwritten with the rights of the user running the script, which could
be the root user.

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

All GNU shtool users should upgrade to the latest version:

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=dev-util/shtool-2.0.1-r2"

All ocaml-mysql users should upgrade to the latest version:

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=dev-ml/ocaml-mysql-1.0.3-r1"

References

[ 1 ] CAN-2005-1751
http://www.cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CAN-2005-1751
[ 2 ] CAN-2005-1759
http://www.cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CAN-2005-1759

Availability

This GLSA and any updates to it are available for viewing at
the Gentoo Security Website:

http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200506-08.xml

Concerns?

Security is a primary focus of Gentoo Linux and ensuring the
confidentiality and security of our users machines is of utmost
importance to us. Any security concerns should be addressed to
[email protected] or alternatively, you may file a bug at
http://bugs.gentoo.org.

License

Copyright 2005 Gentoo Foundation, Inc; referenced text
belongs to its owner(s).

The contents of this document are licensed under the
Creative Commons - Attribution / Share Alike license.

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0