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Home >> Browse Vulnerability Assessment Database >> Fedora Local Security Checks >> Fedora Core 2 2004-108: utempter

Vulnerability Assessment Details

Fedora Core 2 2004-108: utempter

Vulnerability Assessment Summary
Check for the version of the utempter package

Detailed Explanation for this Vulnerability Assessment

The remote host is missing the patch for the advisory FEDORA-2004-108 (utempter).

Utempter is a utility which permits some non-privileged programs to
have required root access without compromising system
security. Utempter accomplishes this feat by acting as a buffer
between root and the programs.

Update Information:

Topic:
An updated utempter package that fixes a potential symlink vulnerability is
now available.

Problem Description:
Utempter is a utility that permits terminal applications such as xterm and
screen to update utmp and wtmp without requiring root rights.

Steve Grubb discovered a flaw in Utempter which permited device names
containing directory traversal sequences such as '/../'. In combination
with an application that trusts the utmp or wtmp files, this could permit a
local attacker the ability to overwrite privileged files using a symlink.

Users should upgrade to this new version of utempter, which fixes this
vulnerability.

Solution : http://www.fedoranews.org/updates/FEDORA-2004-108.shtml
Network Security Threat Level: High

Networks Security ID:

Vulnerability Assessment Copyright: This script is Copyright (C) 2004 Tenable Network Security

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