[ GLSA 200405-05 ] Utempter symlink vulnerability

[GLSA]

Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Title: Utempter symlink vulnerability (GLSA 200405-05)
Severity: normal
Exploitable: local
Date: May 13, 2004
Bug(s): #49536
ID: 200405-05

Synopsis

Utempter contains a vulnerability that may allow local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack.

Background

Utempter is an application that allows non-privileged apps to write utmp (login) info, which otherwise needs root access.

Affected Packages

Package: sys-apps/utempter
Vulnerable: < 0.5.5.4
Unaffected: >= 0.5.5.4
Architectures: All supported architectures


Description

Utempter contains a vulnerability that may allow local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack.

Impact

This vulnerability may allow arbitrary files to be overwritten with root privileges.

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time. All users are advised to upgrade to the latest available version of utempter.

Resolution

All users of utempter should upgrade to the latest stable version: