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



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Gentoo Linux Security Advisory                           GLSA 200511-06
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                                            http://security.gentoo.org/
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  Severity: Normal
     Title: fetchmail: Password exposure in fetchmailconf
      Date: November 06, 2005
      Bugs: #110366
        ID: 200511-06

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Synopsis
========

fetchmailconf fails to properly handle file permissions, temporarily
exposing sensitive information to other local users.

Background
==========

fetchmail is a utility that retrieves and forwards mail from remote
systems using IMAP, POP, and other protocols. It ships with
fetchmailconf, a graphical utility used to create configuration files.

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

    -------------------------------------------------------------------
     Package             /   Vulnerable   /                 Unaffected
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
  1  net-mail/fetchmail     < 6.2.5.2-r1                 >= 6.2.5.2-r1

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

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.

Resolution
==========

All fetchmail users should upgrade to the latest version:

    # emerge --sync
    # emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=net-mail/fetchmail-6.2.5.2-r1"

References
==========

  [ 1 ] Fetchmail Security Advisory
        http://fetchmail.berlios.de/fetchmail-SA-2005-02.txt
  [ 2 ] CVE-2005-3088
        http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2005-3088

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

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

  http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200511-06.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 2005 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

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