MySQL: Insecure temporary file creation

1. Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Advisory Reference	GLSA 200501-33 / mysql
Release Date	January 23, 2005
Latest Revision	January 23, 2005: 01
Impact	normal
Exploitable	local

Package	Vulnerable versions	Unaffected versions	Architecture(s)
dev-db/mysql	< 4.0.22-r2	>= 4.0.22-r2	All supported architectures

Related bugreports: #77805

Synopsis

MySQL is vulnerable to symlink attacks, potentially allowing a local user to overwrite arbitrary files.

2. Impact Information

Background

MySQL is a fast, multi-threaded, multi-user SQL database server.

Description

Javier Fernandez-Sanguino Pena from the Debian Security Audit Project discovered that the 'mysqlaccess' script creates temporary files in world-writeable directories with predictable names.

Impact

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

3. Resolution Information

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

All MySQL users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.1: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=dev-db/mysql-4.0.22-r2"

4. References

Page updated January 23, 2005

Summary: This is a Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

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