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Home >> Browse Vulnerability Assessment Database >> Gentoo Local Security Checks >> [GLSA-200409-32] getmail: Filesystem overwrite vulnerability

Vulnerability Assessment Details

[GLSA-200409-32] getmail: Filesystem overwrite vulnerability

Vulnerability Assessment Summary
getmail: Filesystem overwrite vulnerability

Detailed Explanation for this Vulnerability Assessment
The remote host is affected by the vulnerability described in GLSA-200409-32
(getmail: Filesystem overwrite vulnerability)

David Watson discovered a vulnerability in getmail when it is configured to
run as root and deliver mail to the maildirs/mbox files of untrusted local
users. A malicious local user can then exploit a race condition, or a
similar symlink attack, and potentially cause getmail to create or
overwrite files in any directory on the system.

Impact

An untrusted local user could potentially create or overwrite files in any
directory on the system. This vulnerability may also be exploited to have
arbitrary commands executed as root.

Workaround

Do not run getmail as a privileged user
or, in version 4, use an external
MDA with explicitly configured user and group rights.

References:
http://www.qcc.ca/~charlesc/software/getmail-4/CHANGELOG
http://article.gmane.org/gmane.mail.getmail.user/1430

Solution:
All getmail users should upgrade to the latest version:
# emerge sync
# emerge -pv ">=net-mail/getmail-4.2.0"
# emerge ">=net-mail/getmail-4.2.0"

Network Security Threat Level: High

Networks Security ID:

Vulnerability Assessment Copyright: (C) 2005 Michel Arboi

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