[Full-Disclosure] [ GLSA 200411-26 ] GIMPS, SETI at home, ChessBrain: Insecure installation

[Sune Kloppenborg Jeppesen]

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Gentoo Linux Security Advisory                           GLSA 200411-26
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                                            http://security.gentoo.org/
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  Severity: High
     Title: GIMPS, SETI at home, ChessBrain: Insecure installation
      Date: November 17, 2004
      Bugs: #69868
        ID: 200411-26

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Synopsis
========

Improper file ownership allows user-owned files to be run with root
privileges by init scripts.

Background
==========

GIMPS is a client for the distributed Great Internet Mersenne Prime
Search. SETI at home is the client for the Search for Extraterrestrial
Intelligence (SETI) project. ChessBrain is the client for the
distributed chess supercomputer.

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

    -------------------------------------------------------------------
     Package             /  Vulnerable  /                   Unaffected
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
  1  app-sci/gimps            <= 23.9                       >= 23.9-r1
  2  app-sci/setiathome     <= 3.08-r3                      >= 3.08-r4
                                                           *>= 3.03-r2
  3  app-sci/chessbrain      <= 20407                      >= 20407-r1
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
     3 affected packages on all of their supported architectures.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------

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

GIMPS, SETI at home and ChessBrain ebuilds install user-owned binaries and
init scripts which are executed with root privileges.

Impact
======

This could lead to a local privilege escalation or root compromise.

Workaround
==========

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution
==========

All GIMPS users should upgrade to the latest version:

    # emerge --sync
    # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=app-sci/gimps-23.9-r1"

All SETI at home users should upgrade to the latest version:

    # emerge --sync
    # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=app-sci/setiathome-3.08-r4"

All ChessBrain users should upgrade to the latest version:

    # emerge --sync
    # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=app-sci/chessbrain-20407-r1"

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

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

  http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200411-26.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 at gentoo.org or alternatively, you may file a bug at
http://bugs.gentoo.org.

License
=======

Copyright 2004 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/2.0
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