GLSA 200311-06: glibc: getgrouplist buffer overflow vulnerability

http://security.gentoo.org/

Severity:	normal
Title:	glibc: getgrouplist buffer overflow vulnerability
Date:	11/22/2003
Bugs:	#33383
ID:	200311-06

Synopsis

glibc contains a buffer overflow in the getgrouplist function.

Background

glibc is the GNU C library.

Affected packages

Package	Vulnerable	Unaffected	Architecture(s)
sys-libs/glibc	<= 2.2.4	>= 2.2.5	All supported architectures

Description

A bug in the getgrouplist function can cause a buffer overflow if the size of the group list is too small to hold all the user's groups. This overflow can cause segmentation faults in user applications. This vulnerability exists only when an administrator has placed a user in a number of groups larger than that expected by an application.

Impact

Applications that use getgrouplist can crash.

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

It is recommended that all Gentoo Linux users update their systems as follows:

    # emerge sync
    # emerge -pv '>=sys-libs/glibc-2.2.5'
    # emerge '>=sys-libs/glibc-2.2.5'
    # emerge clean

References

CAN-2003-0689

Availability

This GLSA and any updates to it are available for viewing at the Gentoo Security Website: http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200311-06.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 security@gentoo.org or alternatively, you may file a bug at https://bugs.gentoo.org.