<<< Date Index >>>     <<< Thread Index >>>

[ GLSA 200411-26 ] GIMPS, SETI@home, ChessBrain: Insecure installation



- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Gentoo Linux Security Advisory                           GLSA 200411-26
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
                                            http://security.gentoo.org/
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

  Severity: High
     Title: GIMPS, SETI@home, ChessBrain: Insecure installation
      Date: November 17, 2004
      Bugs: #69868
        ID: 200411-26

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Synopsis
========

Improper file ownership allows user-owned files to be run with root
privileges by init scripts.

Background
==========

GIMPS is a client for the distributed Great Internet Mersenne Prime
Search. SETI@home is the client for the Search for Extraterrestrial
Intelligence (SETI) project. ChessBrain is the client for the
distributed chess supercomputer.

Affected packages
=================

    -------------------------------------------------------------------
     Package             /  Vulnerable  /                   Unaffected
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
  1  app-sci/gimps            <= 23.9                       >= 23.9-r1
  2  app-sci/setiathome     <= 3.08-r3                      >= 3.08-r4
                                                           *>= 3.03-r2
  3  app-sci/chessbrain      <= 20407                      >= 20407-r1
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
     3 affected packages on all of their supported architectures.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------

Description
===========

GIMPS, SETI@home and ChessBrain ebuilds install user-owned binaries and
init scripts which are executed with root privileges.

Impact
======

This could lead to a local privilege escalation or root compromise.

Workaround
==========

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution
==========

All GIMPS users should upgrade to the latest version:

    # emerge --sync
    # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=app-sci/gimps-23.9-r1"

All SETI@home users should upgrade to the latest version:

    # emerge --sync
    # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=app-sci/setiathome-3.08-r4"

All ChessBrain users should upgrade to the latest version:

    # emerge --sync
    # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=app-sci/chessbrain-20407-r1"

Availability
============

This GLSA and any updates to it are available for viewing at
the Gentoo Security Website:

  http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200411-26.xml

Concerns?
=========

Security is a primary focus of Gentoo Linux and ensuring the
confidentiality and security of our users machines is of utmost
importance to us. Any security concerns should be addressed to
security@xxxxxxxxxx or alternatively, you may file a bug at
http://bugs.gentoo.org.

License
=======

Copyright 2004 Gentoo Foundation, Inc; referenced text
belongs to its owner(s).

The contents of this document are licensed under the
Creative Commons - Attribution / Share Alike license.

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0

Attachment: pgp2fTBHhNox3.pgp
Description: PGP signature