[ GLSA 200512-02 ] Webmin, Usermin: Format string vulnerability

[GLSA]

Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Title: Webmin, Usermin: Format string vulnerability (GLSA 200512-02)
Severity: high
Exploitable: remote
Date: December 07, 2005
Bug(s): #113888
ID: 200512-02

Synopsis


Webmin and Usermin are vulnerable to a format string vulnerability which
may lead to the execution of arbitrary code.


Background


Webmin is a web-based interface for Unix-like systems. Usermin is
a simplified version of Webmin designed for use by normal users rather
than system administrators.


Affected Packages

Package: app-admin/webmin
Vulnerable: < 1.250
Unaffected: >= 1.250
Architectures: All supported architectures

Package: app-admin/usermin
Vulnerable: < 1.180
Unaffected: >= 1.180
Architectures: All supported architectures


Description


Jack Louis discovered that the Webmin and Usermin "miniserv.pl"
web server component is vulnerable to a Perl format string
vulnerability. Login with the supplied username is logged via the Perl
"syslog" facility in an unsafe manner.


Impact


A remote attacker can trigger this vulnerability via a specially
crafted username containing format string data. This can be exploited
to consume a large amount of CPU and memory resources on a vulnerable
system, and possibly to execute arbitrary code of the attacker's choice
with the permissions of the user running Webmin.


Workaround


There is no known workaround at this time.


Resolution


All Webmin users should upgrade to the latest version: