Util-linux login may leak sensitive data

1. Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Advisory Reference	GLSA 200404-06 /
Release Date	April 07, 2004
Latest Revision	April 07, 2004: 01
Impact	low
Exploitable	remote

Package	Vulnerable versions	Unaffected versions	Architecture(s)
sys-apps/util-linux	<= 2.11	>= 2.12	All supported architectures

Related bugreports: #46422

Synopsis

The login program included in util-linux could leak sensitive information under certain conditions.

2. Impact Information

Background

Util-linux is a suite of essential system utilites, including login, agetty, fdisk.

Description

In some situations the login program could leak sensitive data due to an incorrect usage of a reallocated pointer.

NOTE: Only users who have PAM support disabled on their systems (i.e. -PAM in their USE variable) will be affected by this vulnerability. By default, this USE flag is enabled on all architectures. Users with PAM support on their system receive login binaries as part of the pam-login package, which remains unaffected.

Impact

A remote attacker may obtain sensitive data.

3. Resolution Information

Workaround

A workaround is not currently known for this issue. All users are advised to upgrade to the latest version of the affected package.

Resolution

All util-linux users should upgrade to version 2.12 or later:

Code Listing 3.1: Resolution

# emerge sync


# emerge ">=sys-apps/util-linux-2.12"

4. References

CAN-2004-0080

Page updated April 07, 2004

Summary: This is a Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

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