GLSA 200804-03: OpenSSH: Privilege escalation

Severity:normal
Title:OpenSSH: Privilege escalation
Date:04/05/2008
Bugs: #214985, #215702
ID:200804-03

Synopsis

Two flaws have been discovered in OpenSSH which could allow local attackers to escalate their privileges.

Background

OpenSSH is a complete SSH protocol implementation that includes an SFTP client and server support.

Affected packages

Package Vulnerable Unaffected Architecture(s)
net-misc/openssh < 4.7_p1-r6 >= 4.7_p1-r6 All supported architectures

Description

Two issues have been discovered in OpenSSH:

  • Timo Juhani Lindfors discovered that OpenSSH sets the DISPLAY variable in SSH sessions using X11 forwarding even when it cannot bind the X11 server to a local port in all address families (CVE-2008-1483).
  • OpenSSH will execute the contents of the ".ssh/rc" file even when the "ForceCommand" directive is enabled in the global sshd_config (CVE-2008-1657).

Impact

A local attacker could exploit the first vulnerability to hijack forwarded X11 sessions of other users and possibly execute code with their privileges, disclose sensitive data or cause a Denial of Service, by binding a local X11 server to a port using only one address family. The second vulnerability might allow local attackers to bypass intended security restrictions and execute commands other than those specified by "ForceCommand" if they are able to write to their home directory.

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

All OpenSSH users should upgrade to the latest version:

    # emerge --sync
    # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=net-misc/openssh-4.7_p1-r6"

References

Availability

This GLSA and any updates to it are available for viewing at the Gentoo Security Website: http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200804-03.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!