Hashcash: Format string vulnerability

1. Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Advisory Reference	GLSA 200503-12 / Hashcash
Release Date	March 06, 2005
Latest Revision	May 22, 2006: 02
Impact	normal
Exploitable	remote

Package	Vulnerable versions	Unaffected versions	Architecture(s)
net-misc/hashcash	< 1.16-r1	>= 1.16-r1	All supported architectures

Related bugreports: #83541

Synopsis

A format string vulnerability in the Hashcash utility could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code.

2. Impact Information

Background

Hashcash is a utility for generating Hashcash tokens, a proof-of-work system to reduce the impact of spam.

Description

Tavis Ormandy of the Gentoo Linux Security Audit Team identified a flaw in the Hashcash utility that an attacker could expose by specifying a malformed reply address.

Impact

Successful exploitation would permit an attacker to disrupt Hashcash users, and potentially execute arbitrary code.

3. Resolution Information

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

All Hashcash users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.1: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=net-misc/hashcash-1.16-r1"

4. References

CVE-2005-0687

Updated March 06, 2005

Summary: This is a Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

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