[Full-disclosure] [ GLSA 200511-19 ] eix: Insecure temporary file creation

[Sune Kloppenborg Jeppesen]

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Gentoo Linux Security Advisory                           GLSA 200511-19
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
                                            http://security.gentoo.org/
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

  Severity: Normal
     Title: eix: Insecure temporary file creation
      Date: November 22, 2005
      Bugs: #112061
        ID: 200511-19

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Synopsis
========

eix has an insecure temporary file creation vulnerability, potentially
allowing a local user to overwrite arbitrary files.

Background
==========

eix is a small utility for searching ebuilds with indexing for fast
results.

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

    -------------------------------------------------------------------
     Package          /   Vulnerable   /                    Unaffected
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
  1  app-portage/eix     < 0.5.0_pre2                    >= 0.5.0_pre2
                                                          *>= 0.3.0-r2

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

Eric Romang discovered that eix creates a temporary file with a
predictable name. eix creates a temporary file in /tmp/eix.*.sync where
* is the process ID of the shell running eix.

Impact
======

A local attacker can watch the process list and determine the process
ID of the shell running eix while the "emerge --sync" command is
running, then create a link from the corresponding temporary file to a
system file, which would result in the file being overwritten with the
rights of the user running the application.

Workaround
==========

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution
==========

All eix users should upgrade to the latest version:

    # emerge --sync
    # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose app-portage/eix

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

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

  http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200511-19.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 2005 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
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: application/pgp-signature
Size: 189 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://lists.grok.org.uk/pipermail/full-disclosure/attachments/20051122/5d264632/attachment.bin