rssh: Privilege escalation

1. Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Advisory Reference	GLSA 200512-15 / rssh
Release Date	December 27, 2005
Latest Revision	December 27, 2005: 01
Impact	high
Exploitable	local

Package	Vulnerable versions	Unaffected versions	Architecture(s)
app-shells/rssh	< 2.3.0	>= 2.3.0	All supported architectures

Related bugreports: #115082

Synopsis

Local users could gain root privileges by chrooting into arbitrary directories.

2. Impact Information

Background

rssh is a restricted shell, allowing only a few commands like scp or sftp. It is often used as a complement to OpenSSH to provide limited access to users.

Description

Max Vozeler discovered that the rssh_chroot_helper command allows local users to chroot into arbitrary directories.

Impact

A local attacker could exploit this vulnerability to gain root privileges by chrooting into arbitrary directories.

3. Resolution Information

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

All rssh users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.1: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=app-shells/rssh-2.3.0"

4. References

Page updated December 27, 2005

Summary: This is a Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

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