Re: GNU screen buffer overflow

On Mon, 1 Dec 2003, Kyle Sallee wrote:

> > With devpts and libutempter it is possible to install fully functional
> > screen without suid/sgid.
>
> Does that mean any program that links with libutempter gains
> complete suid/sgid root functionality, or only when executing
> the functions in the libutempter library, please?

This means you do not need setuid root because devpts sets up the slave
pty owner and group automatically and you do not need direct access to
utmp/wtmp, e.g. via setgid utmp, because libtempter functions call an
external setgid utmp helper called utempter to modify those files (the
calling process is required to hold a corresponding master pty).

--Pavel Kankovsky aka Peak [ Boycott Microsoft--http://www.vcnet.com/bms ]
"Resistance is futile. Open your source code and prepare for assimilation."
Received on Dec 03 2003