GLSA 200504-25: Rootkit Hunter: Insecure temporary file creation

http://security.gentoo.org/

Severity:	normal
Title:	Rootkit Hunter: Insecure temporary file creation
Date:	04/26/2005
Bugs:	#90007
ID:	200504-25

Synopsis

Rootkit Hunter is vulnerable to symlink attacks, potentially allowing a local user to overwrite arbitrary files.

Background

Rootkit Hunter is a scanning tool to detect rootkits, backdoors and local exploits on a local machine. Rootkit Hunter uses downloaded data files to check file integrity. These files are updated via the check_update.sh script.

Affected packages

Package	Vulnerable	Unaffected	Architecture(s)
app-forensics/rkhunter	< 1.2.3-r1	>= 1.2.3-r1	All supported architectures

Description

Sune Kloppenborg Jeppesen and Tavis Ormandy of the Gentoo Linux Security Team have reported that the check_update.sh script and the main rkhunter script insecurely creates several temporary files with predictable filenames.

Impact

A local attacker could create symbolic links in the temporary files directory, pointing to a valid file somewhere on the filesystem. When rkhunter or the check_update.sh script runs, this would result in the file being overwritten with the rights of the user running the utility, which could be the root user.

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

All Rootkit Hunter users should upgrade to the latest version:

    # emerge --sync
    # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=app-forensics/rkhunter-1.2.3-r1"

References

CAN-2005-1270

Availability

This GLSA and any updates to it are available for viewing at the Gentoo Security Website: http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200504-25.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.