policyd-weight: Insecure temporary file creation

1. Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Advisory Reference	GLSA 200804-11 / policyd-weight
Release Date	April 11, 2008
Latest Revision	April 11, 2008: 01
Impact	normal
Exploitable	local

Package	Vulnerable versions	Unaffected versions	Architecture(s)
mail-filter/policyd-weight	< 0.1.14.17	>= 0.1.14.17	All supported architectures

Related bugreports: #214403

Synopsis

policyd-weight uses temporary files in an insecure manner, allowing for a symlink attack.

2. Impact Information

Background

policyd-weight is a Perl policy daemon for the Postfix MTA intended to eliminate forged envelope senders and HELOs.

Description

Chris Howells reported that policyd-weight creates and uses the "/tmp/.policyd-weight/" directory in an insecure manner.

Impact

A local attacker could exploit this vulnerability to delete arbitrary files or change the ownership to the "polw" user via symlink attacks.

3. Resolution Information

Workaround

Set "$LOCKPATH = '/var/run/policyd-weight/'" manually in "/etc/policyd-weight.conf".

Resolution

All policyd-weight users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.1: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=mail-filter/policyd-weight-0.1.14.17"

This version changes the default path for sockets to "/var/run/policyd-weight", which is only writable by a privileged user. Users need to restart policyd-weight immediately after the upgrade due to this change.

4. References

CVE-2008-1569

Updated April 11, 2008

Summary: This is a Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

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