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Home >> Browse Vulnerability Assessment Database >> Gentoo Local Security Checks >> [GLSA-200409-02] MySQL: Insecure temporary file creation in mysqlhotcopy

Vulnerability Assessment Details

[GLSA-200409-02] MySQL: Insecure temporary file creation in mysqlhotcopy

Vulnerability Assessment Summary
MySQL: Insecure temporary file creation in mysqlhotcopy

Detailed Explanation for this Vulnerability Assessment
The remote host is affected by the vulnerability described in GLSA-200409-02
(MySQL: Insecure temporary file creation in mysqlhotcopy)

Jeroen van Wolffelaar discovered that the MySQL database hot copy utility
(mysqlhotcopy.sh), when using the scp method, uses temporary files with
predictable names. A malicious local user with write access to the /tmp
directory could create a symbolic link pointing to a file, which may then
be overwritten. In cases where mysqlhotcopy is run as root, a malicious
user could create a symlink to a critical file such as /etc/passwd and
cause it to be overwritten.

Impact

A local attacker could use this vulnerability to destroy other users' data
or corrupt and destroy system files, possibly leading to a denial of
service condition.

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

References:
http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2004-0457

Solution:
All MySQL users should upgrade to the latest version:
# emerge sync
# emerge -pv ">=dev-db/mysql-4.0.20-r1"
# emerge ">=dev-db/mysql-4.0.20-r1"

Network Security Threat Level: Medium

Networks Security ID:

Vulnerability Assessment Copyright: (C) 2005 Michel Arboi

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