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Home >> Browse Vulnerability Assessment Database >> Debian Local Security Checks >> [DSA364] DSA-364-3 man-db

Vulnerability Assessment Details

[DSA364] DSA-364-3 man-db

Vulnerability Assessment Summary
DSA-364-3 man-db

Detailed Explanation for this Vulnerability Assessment

man-db provides the standard man(1) command on Debian systems. During
configuration of this package, the administrator is asked whether
man(1) should run setuid to a dedicated user ("man") in order to
provide a shared cache of preformatted manual pages. The default is
for man(1) NOT to be setuid, and in this configuration no known
vulnerability exists. However, if the user explicitly requests setuid
operation, a local attacker could exploit either of the following bugs to
execute arbitrary code as the "man" user.
Again, these vulnerabilities do not affect the default configuration,
where man is not setuid.
For the current stable distribution (woody), these problems have been
fixed in version 2.3.20-18.woody.4.
For the unstable distribution (sid), these problems have been fixed in
version 2.4.1-13.
We recommend that you update your man-db package.

Solution : http://www.debian.org/security/2003/dsa-364
Network Security Threat Level: High

Networks Security ID: 8303, 8341

Vulnerability Assessment Copyright: This script is (C) 2005 Michel Arboi

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