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cURL: Certificate validation error

Content:

1.  Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Version Information

Advisory Reference GLSA 200909-20 / curl
Release Date September 25, 2009
Latest Revision September 25, 2009: 01
Impact normal
Exploitable remote
Package Vulnerable versions Unaffected versions Architecture(s)
net-misc/curl < 7.19.6 >= 7.19.6 All supported architectures

Related bugreports: #281515

Synopsis

An error in the X.509 certificate handling of cURL might enable remote attackers to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks.

2.  Impact Information

Background

cURL is a command line tool for transferring files with URL syntax, supporting numerous protocols.

Description

Scott Cantor reported that cURL does not properly handle fields in X.509 certificates that contain an ASCII NUL (\0) character. Specifically, the processing of such fields is stopped at the first occurence of a NUL character. This type of vulnerability was recently discovered by Dan Kaminsky and Moxie Marlinspike.

Impact

A remote attacker might employ a specially crafted X.509 certificate (that for instance contains a NUL character in the Common Name field) to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks.

3.  Resolution Information

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

All cURL users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.1: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=net-misc/curl-7.19.6"

4.  References



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Page updated September 25, 2009

Summary: This is a Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

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