Fedora: utempter Improper directory traversal vulnerability
Summary
Utempter is a utility which allows some non-privileged programs to
have required root access without compromising system
security. Utempter accomplishes this feat by acting as a buffer
between root and the programs.
Update Information:
Topic:
An updated utempter package that fixes a potential symlink vulnerability is
now available.
Problem Description:
Utempter is a utility that allows terminal applications such as xterm and
screen to update utmp and wtmp without requiring root privileges.
Steve Grubb discovered a flaw in Utempter which allowed device names
containing directory traversal sequences such as '/../'. In combination
with an application that trusts the utmp or wtmp files, this could allow a
local attacker the ability to overwrite privileged files using a symlink.
Users should upgrade to this new version of utempter, which fixes this
vulnerability.
* Tue Apr 20 2004 Mike A. Harris <mharris@redhat.com> 0.5.5-4
- Build 0.5.5-1 version as 0.5.5-1.2.1EL.0 for RHEL 2.1 erratum - Build 0.5.5-1 version as 0.5.5-1.3EL.0 for RHEL 3 erratum - Build 0.5.5-1 version as 0.5.5-2.RHL9.0 for RHL 9 erratum - Build 0.5.5-1 version as 0.5.5-3.FC1.0 for Fedora Core 1 erratum - Build 0.5.5-1 version as 0.5.5-4 for Fed...
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References
Fedora Update Notification FEDORA-2004-108 2004-04-21 Name : utempter Version : 0.5.5 Release : 3.FC1.0 Summary : A privileged helper for utmp/wtmp updates. Description : Utempter is a utility which allows some non-privileged programs to have required root access without compromising system security. Utempter accomplishes this feat by acting as a buffer between root and the programs.