Bugtraq: [ GLSA 200411-26 ] GIMPS, SETI@home, ChessBrain: Insecure installation

From: Sune Kloppenborg Jeppesen <jaervosz_at_gentoo.org>
Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2004 23:10:29 +0100

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Gentoo Linux Security Advisory GLSA 200411-26
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http://security.gentoo.org/
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  Severity: High
     Title: GIMPS, SETI_at_home, ChessBrain: Insecure installation
      Date: November 17, 2004
      Bugs: #69868
        ID: 200411-26

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Synopsis
========

Improper file ownership allows user-owned files to be run with root
privileges by init scripts.

Background
==========

GIMPS is a client for the distributed Great Internet Mersenne Prime
Search. SETI_at_home is the client for the Search for Extraterrestrial
Intelligence (SETI) project. ChessBrain is the client for the
distributed chess supercomputer.

Affected packages
=================

    -------------------------------------------------------------------
     Package / Vulnerable / Unaffected
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
  1 app-sci/gimps <= 23.9 >= 23.9-r1
  2 app-sci/setiathome <= 3.08-r3 >= 3.08-r4
                                                           *>= 3.03-r2
  3 app-sci/chessbrain <= 20407 >= 20407-r1
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
     3 affected packages on all of their supported architectures.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------

Description
===========

GIMPS, SETI_at_home and ChessBrain ebuilds install user-owned binaries and
init scripts which are executed with root privileges.

Impact
======

This could lead to a local privilege escalation or root compromise.

Workaround
==========

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution
==========

All GIMPS users should upgrade to the latest version:

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=app-sci/gimps-23.9-r1"

All SETI_at_home users should upgrade to the latest version:

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=app-sci/setiathome-3.08-r4"

All ChessBrain users should upgrade to the latest version:

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=app-sci/chessbrain-20407-r1"

Availability
============

This GLSA and any updates to it are available for viewing at
the Gentoo Security Website:

http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200411-26.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_at_gentoo.org or alternatively, you may file a bug at
http://bugs.gentoo.org.

License
=======

The contents of this document are licensed under the
Creative Commons - Attribution / Share Alike license.

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0

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Received on Nov 17 2004