Stay Secure with the Latest Linux Advisories

security advisorycritical issueubuntu

Ubuntu 7.04-8.04 LTS USN-612-4 Critical: Ssl-Cert Brute-Force Risk

A weakness has been discovered in the random number generator used by OpenSSL on Debian and Ubuntu systems. As a result of this weakness, certain encryption keys are much more common than they should be, such that an attacker could guess the key through a brute-force attack given minimal knowledge of the system. This particularly affects the use of encryption keys in OpenSSH, OpenVPN and SSL certificates. . =========================================================== Ubuntu Security Notice USN-612-4 May 14, 2008 ssl-cert vulnerability CVE-2008-0166, https://ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-612-1 ========================================================== A security issue affects the following Ubuntu releases: Ubuntu 7.04 Ubuntu 7.10 Ubuntu 8.04 LTS This advisory also applies to the corresponding versions of Kubuntu, Edubuntu, and Xubuntu. The problem can be corrected by upgrading your system to the following package versions: Ubuntu 7.04: ssl-cert 1.0.13-0ubuntu0.7.04.1 Ubuntu 7.10: ssl-cert 1.0.14-0ubuntu0.7.10.1 Ubuntu 8.04 LTS: ssl-cert 1.0.14-0ubuntu2.1 In general, a standard system upgrade is sufficient to effect the necessary changes. Details follow: USN-612-1 fixed vulnerabilities in openssl. This update provides the corresponding updates for ssl-cert -- potentially compromised snake-oil SSL certificates will be regenerated. Original advisory details: A weakness has been discovered in the random number generator used by OpenSSL on Debian and Ubuntu systems. As a result of this weakness, certain encryption keys are much more common than they should be, such that an attacker could guess the key through a brute-force attack given minimal knowledge of the system. This particularly affects the use of encryption keys in OpenSSH, OpenVPN and SSL certificates. This vulnerability only affects operating systems which (like Ubuntu) arebased on Debian. However, other systems can be indirectly affected if weak keys are imported into them. We consider this an extremely serious vulnerability, and urge all users to act immediately to secure their systems. (CVE-2008-0166) == Who is affected = Systems which are running any of the following releases: * Ubuntu 7.04 (Feisty) * Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy) * Ubuntu 8.04 LTS (Hardy) * Ubuntu "Intrepid Ibex" (development): libssl

May 14, 2008 •Critical Ubuntu