GLSA 200506-08: GNU shtool, ocaml-mysql: Insecure temporary file creation

http://security.gentoo.org/

Severity:	normal
Title:	GNU shtool, ocaml-mysql: Insecure temporary file creation
Date:	06/11/2005
Bugs:	#93782, #93784
ID:	200506-08

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	Architecture(s)
dev-util/shtool	< 2.0.1-r2	>= 2.0.1-r2	All supported architectures
dev-ml/ocaml-mysql	< 1.0.3-r1	>= 1.0.3-r1	All 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

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 security@gentoo.org or alternatively, you may file a bug at https://bugs.gentoo.org.