Multiple Linux Vendor man Buffer Overrun Vulnerability

BID:1011

Info

Multiple Linux Vendor man Buffer Overrun Vulnerability

Bugtraq ID: 1011
Class: Boundary Condition Error
CVE:
Remote: No
Local: Yes
Published: Feb 26 2000 12:00AM
Updated: Feb 26 2000 12:00AM
Credit: This vulnerability was posted to the Bugtraq mailing list by Michal Zalewski <[email protected]> on February 26, 2000.
Vulnerable: Turbolinux Turbolinux 4.4
Turbolinux Turbolinux 4.2
Turbolinux Turbolinux 3.5 b2
Turbolinux man 1.5 g-5
+ Turbolinux Turbolinux 6.0.2
Redhat man 1.5 g-6.sparc
+ Redhat Linux 6.1 sparc
Redhat man 1.5 g-6.i386
+ Redhat Linux 6.1 i386
Redhat man 1.5 g-6.alpha
+ Redhat Linux 6.1 alpha
Redhat Linux 6.2 i386
Redhat Linux 6.0
Redhat Linux 5.2 i386
Redhat Linux 5.1
- Standard & Poors ComStock 4.2.4
Redhat Linux 5.0
Redhat Linux 4.2
Redhat Linux 4.1
Redhat Linux 4.0
Not Vulnerable: Turbolinux man 1.5 h1-1

Discussion

Multiple Linux Vendor man Buffer Overrun Vulnerability

A buffer overflow exists in the implementation of the 'man' program shipped with RedHat Linux, and other LInux vendors. By carefully crafting a long buffer of machine executable code, and placing it in the MANPAGER environmental variable, it becomes possible for a would be attacker to gain egid man.

Using attacks previously outlined by Pawel Wilk, and available in the reference portion of the credit section, it is possible for an attacker to alter manpages such that code will be executed. Upon looking up an altered manpage, code will be executed with the privileges of the person running man. If this person is the root user, root privileges can be obtained.

Solution / Fix

Multiple Linux Vendor man Buffer Overrun Vulnerability

Solution:
Removal of the setgid bit from this application will eliminate the problem. Preformatted man pages will no longer be created, however.


Turbolinux man 1.5 g-5

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