Syslog-ng: Chroot escape

1. Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Advisory Reference	GLSA 200907-10 / syslog-ng
Release Date	July 12, 2009
Latest Revision	July 12, 2009: 01
Impact	low
Exploitable	local

Package	Vulnerable versions	Unaffected versions	Architecture(s)
app-admin/syslog-ng	< 2.1.3	revision >= 2.0.10, >= 2.1.3	All supported architectures

Related bugreports: #247278

Synopsis

Syslog-ng does not properly initialize its chroot jail allowing for an escape if a separate vulnerability in Syslog-ng is exploited.

2. Impact Information

Background

Syslog-ng is a flexible and scalable system logger.

Description

Florian Grandel reported that Syslog-ng does not call chdir() before chroot() which leads to an inherited file descriptor to the current working directory.

Impact

A local attacker might exploit a separate vulnerability in Syslog-ng and use this vulnerability to escape the chroot jail.

3. Resolution Information

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

All Syslog-ng 2.0 users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.1: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=app-admin/syslog-ng-2.0.10"

All Syslog-ng 2.1 users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.2: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=app-admin/syslog-ng-2.1.3"

4. References

CVE-2008-5110

Updated July 12, 2009

Summary: This is a Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

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