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Home >> Browse Vulnerability Assessment Database >> Gentoo Local Security Checks >> [GLSA-200511-06] fetchmail: Password exposure in fetchmailconf

Vulnerability Assessment Details

[GLSA-200511-06] fetchmail: Password exposure in fetchmailconf

Vulnerability Assessment Summary
fetchmail: Password exposure in fetchmailconf

Detailed Explanation for this Vulnerability Assessment
The remote host is affected by the vulnerability described in GLSA-200511-06
(fetchmail: Password exposure in fetchmailconf)

Thomas Wolff discovered that fetchmailconf opens the configuration
file with default permissions, writes the configuration to it, and only
then restricts read permissions to the owner.

Impact

A local attacker could exploit the race condition to retrieve
sensitive information like IMAP/POP passwords.

Workaround

Run "umask 077" to temporarily strengthen default permissions,
then run "fetchmailconf" from the same shell.

References:
http://fetchmail.berlios.de/fetchmail-SA-2005-02.txt
http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2005-3088

Solution:
All fetchmail users should upgrade to the latest version:
# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=net-mail/fetchmail-6.2.5.2-r1"

Network Security Threat Level: Medium

Networks Security ID:

Vulnerability Assessment Copyright: (C) 2005 Michel Arboi

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