GLSA 200502-12: Webmin: Information leak in Gentoo binary package

Severity:normal
Title:Webmin: Information leak in Gentoo binary package
Date:02/11/2005
Bugs: #77731
ID:200502-12

Synopsis

Portage-built Webmin binary packages accidentally include a file containing the local encrypted root password.

Background

Webmin is a web-based system administration console allowing an administrator to easily configure servers and other features. Using the 'buildpkg' FEATURE, or the -b/-B emerge options, Portage can build reusable binary packages for any of the packages available through the Portage tree.

Affected packages

Package Vulnerable Unaffected Architecture(s)
app-admin/webmin < 1.170-r3 >= 1.170-r3 All supported architectures

Description

Tavis Ormandy of the Gentoo Linux Security Audit Team discovered that the Webmin ebuild contains a design flaw. It imports the encrypted local root password into the miniserv.users file before building binary packages that include this file.

Impact

A remote attacker could retrieve Portage-built Webmin binary packages and recover the encrypted root password from the build host.

Workaround

Users who never built or shared a Webmin binary package are unaffected by this.

Resolution

Webmin users should delete any old shared Webmin binary package as soon as possible. They should also consider their buildhost root password potentially exposed and follow proper audit procedures.

If you plan to build binary packages, you should upgrade to the latest version:

    # emerge --sync
    # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=app-admin/webmin-1.170-r3"

References

Availability

This GLSA and any updates to it are available for viewing at the Gentoo Security Website: http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200502-12.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.

License

Copyright 2010 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.

Thank you!