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Ubuntu 11.10: USN-1351-1 Moderate: AccountsService File Overwrite Risk

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Calendar Grey January 31, 2012
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Security flaw in AccountsService permits unauthorized file updates and escalated privileges on Ubuntu 11.10. Immediate update advised.
AccountsService could be made to overwrite files as the administrator.

Summary

AccountsService could be made to overwrite files as the administrator.

Software Description:

- accountsservice: query and manipulate user account information

Details:

Hayawardh Vijayakumar discovered that AccountsService incorrectly handled

privileges when modifying the language settings on Ubuntu. A local attacker

could exploit this issue to modify arbitrary files, and possibly create a

denial of service or obtain increased privileges.

Update Instructions

The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following
package versions:

Ubuntu 11.10:
  accountsservice                 0.6.14-1git1ubuntu1.1

After a standard system update you need to reboot your computer to make
all the necessary changes.

References

https://ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-1351-1

CVE-2011-4406

January 31, 2012

Package Information

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