[ GLSA 200903-24 ] Shadow: Privilege escalation

[Pierre-Yves Rofes <py () gentoo org>]

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Gentoo Linux Security Advisory                           GLSA 200903-24
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                                            http://security.gentoo.org/
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  Severity: High
     Title: Shadow: Privilege escalation
      Date: March 10, 2009
      Bugs: #251320
        ID: 200903-24

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Synopsis
========

An insecure temporary file usage in Shadow may allow local users to
gain root privileges.

Background
==========

Shadow is a set of tools to deal with user accounts.

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

    -------------------------------------------------------------------
     Package          /  Vulnerable  /                      Unaffected
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
  1  sys-apps/shadow      < 4.1.2.2                         >= 4.1.2.2

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

Paul Szabo reported a race condition in the "login" executable when
setting up tty permissions.

Impact
======

A local attacker belonging to the "utmp" group could use symlink
attacks to overwrite arbitrary files and possibly gain root privileges.

Workaround
==========

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution
==========

All Shadow users should upgrade to the latest version:

    # emerge --sync
    # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=sys-apps/shadow-4.1.2.2"

References
==========

  [ 1 ] CVE-2008-5394
        http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2008-5394

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

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

  http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200903-24.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
http://bugs.gentoo.org.

License
=======

Copyright 2009 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.

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5

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