The eupdatedb utility in esearch creates a file in /tmp without first checking for symlinks. This makes it possible for any user to create arbitrary files. [More...]. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Gentoo Linux Security Advisory GLSA 200407-01 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - https://security.gentoo.org/ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Severity: Normal Title: Esearch: Insecure temp file handling Date: July 01, 2004 Bugs: #55424 ID: 200407-01 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Synopsis ======= The eupdatedb utility in esearch creates a file in /tmp without first checking for symlinks. This makes it possible for any user to create arbitrary files. Background ========= Esearch is a replacement for the Portage command "emerge search". It uses an index to speed up searching of the Portage tree. Affected packages ================ ------------------------------------------------------------------- Package / Vulnerable / Unaffected ------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 app-portage/esearch = 0.6.2 Description ========== The eupdatedb utility uses a temporary file (/tmp/esearchdb.py.tmp) to indicate that the eupdatedb process is running. When run, eupdatedb checks to see if this file exists, but it does not check to see if it is a broken symlink. In the event that the file is a broken symlink, the script will create the file pointed to by the symlink, instead of printing an error and exiting. Impact ===== An attacker could create a symlink from /tmp/esearchdb.py.tmp to a nonexistent file (such as /etc/nologin), and the file will be created the next time esearchdb is run. Workaround ========= There is no known workaround at this time. All users should upgrade to the latestavailable version of esearch. Resolution ========= All users should upgrade to the latest available version of esearch, as follows: # emerge sync # emerge -pv "> =app-portage/esearch-0.6.2" # emerge "> =app-portage/esearch-0.6.2" Availability =========== This GLSA and any updates to it are available for viewing at the Gentoo Security Website: https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/200407-01 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
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