National Cyber-Alert System

Vulnerability Summary for CVE-2002-0638

Overview

setpwnam.c in the util-linux package, as included in Red Hat Linux 7.3 and earlier, and other operating systems, does not properly lock a temporary file when modifying /etc/passwd, which may allow local users to gain privileges via a complex race condition that uses an open file descriptor in utility programs such as chfn and chsh.

Impact

CVSS Severity (version 2.0):

CVSS Version 2 Metrics:

References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools

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US-CERT Vulnerability Note: VU#405955

Name: VU#405955

Type: Advisory; Patch Information

Hyperlink:http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/405955

External Source: REDHAT

Name: RHSA-2002:132

Type: Advisory; Patch Information

Hyperlink:http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2002-132.html

External Source: BID

Name: 5344

Hyperlink:http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/5344

External Source: REDHAT

Name: RHSA-2002:137

Hyperlink:http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2002-137.html

External Source: OSVDB

Name: 5164

Hyperlink:http://www.osvdb.org/5164

External Source: MANDRAKE

Name: MDKSA-2002:047

Hyperlink:http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/security/2002/MDKSA-2002-047.php

External Source: XF

Name: utillinux-chfn-race-condition(9709)

Hyperlink:http://www.iss.net/security_center/static/9709.php

External Source: HP

Name: HPSBTL0207-054

Hyperlink:http://online.securityfocus.com/advisories/4320

External Source: BUGTRAQ

Name: 20020729 RAZOR advisory: Linux util-linux chfn local root vulnerability

Hyperlink:http://marc.theaimsgroup.com/?l=bugtraq&m=102795787713996&w=2

External Source: CONECTIVA

Name: CLA-2002:523

Hyperlink:http://distro.conectiva.com.br/atualizacoes/?id=a&anuncio=000523

External Source: BUGTRAQ

Name: 20020730 TSLSA-2002-0064 - util-linux

Hyperlink:http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/bugtraq/2002-07/0396.html

External Source: VULNWATCH

Name: 20020729 [VulnWatch] RAZOR advisory: Linux util-linux chfn local root vulnerability

Hyperlink:http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/bugtraq/2002-07/0357.html

External Source: CALDERA

Name: CSSA-2002-043.0

Hyperlink:ftp://ftp.caldera.com/pub/security/OpenLinux/CSSA-2002-043.0.txt