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Gentoo: Hylafax Insecure temporary file creation in xferfaxstats Print E-mail
User Rating:      How can I rate this item?
Posted by Benjamin D. Thomas   
Gentoo Hylafax is vulnerable to linking attacks, potentially allowing a local user to overwrite arbitrary files.
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Gentoo Linux Security Advisory                           GLSA 200509-21
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                                            http://security.gentoo.org/
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  Severity: Normal
     Title: Hylafax: Insecure temporary file creation in xferfaxstats
            script
      Date: September 30, 2005
      Bugs: #106882
        ID: 200509-21

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Synopsis
========

Hylafax is vulnerable to linking attacks, potentially allowing a local
user to overwrite arbitrary files.

Background
==========

Hylafax is a client-server fax package for class 1 and 2 fax modems.

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

    -------------------------------------------------------------------
     Package           /  Vulnerable  /                     Unaffected
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
  1  net-misc/hylafax       < 4.2.2                       *>= 4.2.0-r3
                                                          *>= 4.2.1-r2
                                                              >= 4.2.2

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

Javier Fernandez-Sanguino has discovered that xferfaxstats cron script
supplied by Hylafax insecurely creates temporary files with predictable
filenames.

Impact
======

A local attacker could create symbolic links in the temporary file
directory, pointing to a valid file somewhere on the filesystem. When
the xferfaxstats script of Hylafax is executed, this would result in
the file being overwritten with the rights of the user running the
script, which typically is the root user.

Workaround
==========

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution
==========

All Hylafax users should upgrade to the latest version:

    # emerge --sync
    # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose net-misc/hylafax

References
==========

  [ 1 ] Original bug report
        http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=329384

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

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

  http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200509-21.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@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
 
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