Slackware: 2004-278-01: getmail Security Update
Summary
Here are the details from the Slackware 10.0 ChangeLog: patches/packages/getmail-4.2.0-noarch-1.tgz: Upgraded to getmaii-4.2.0. Earlier versions contained a local security flaw when used in an insecure fashion (surprise, running something as root that writes to user-controlled files or directories could allow the old symlink attack to clobber system files! :-) From the getmail CHANGELOG: This vulnerability is not exploitable if the administrator does not deliver mail to the maildirs/mbox files of untrusted local users, or if getmail is configured to use an external unprivileged MDA. This vulnerability is not remotely exploitable. Most users would not use getmail in such as way as to be vulnerable to this flaw, but if your site does this package closes the hole. I'd also recommend not using getmail like this. Either run it as the user that owns the target mailbox, or deliver through an external MDA. (* Security fix *)
Where Find New Packages
Updated package for Slackware 9.1:
ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-9.1/patches/packages/getmail-3.2.5-noarch-1.tgz
Updated package for Slackware 10.0:
ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-10.0/patches/packages/getmail-4.2.0-noarch-1.tgz
Updated package for Slackware -current:
MD5 Signatures
Slackware 9.1 package:
d31d3b88d33488fc55061ea154e31457 getmail-3.2.5-noarch-1.tgz
Slackware 10.0 package:
47b5454e061919f2d2128a16fca3a037 getmail-4.2.0-noarch-1.tgz
Slackware -current package:
65f55bffa3f5fb5158f5f5efb590671a getmail-4.2.0-noarch-1.tgz
Installation Instructions
Installation instructions: Upgrade the package as root: # upgradepkg getmail-4.2.0-noarch-1.tgz