GNU Locate Arbitrary Command Execution Vulnerability

BID:3127

Info

GNU Locate Arbitrary Command Execution Vulnerability

Bugtraq ID: 3127
Class: Input Validation Error
CVE:
Remote: No
Local: Yes
Published: Aug 01 2001 12:00AM
Updated: Aug 01 2001 12:00AM
Credit: Reported to Bugtraq by Josh Smith <[email protected]> on August 1, 2001.
Vulnerable: GNU findutils 4.1
+ Slackware Linux 8.0
+ Slackware Linux 7.1
+ Slackware Linux 7.1
GNU findutils 4.0
Not Vulnerable:

Discussion

GNU Locate Arbitrary Command Execution Vulnerability

GNU locate is an application that searches file databases for file names that match user-supplied patterns.

A boundary condition error can occur when the program reads database files composed in an "old" format, produced by GNU locate prior to version 4.0 and by Unix versions of locate and find. If an attacker is able to write a malicious entry to a database file used by other users, the attacker could cause arbitrary code to be executed by another user when the user runs the locate program.

It also should be noted that in earlier versions of Slackware(circa 3.5) the file is written by the superuser.

Solution / Fix

GNU Locate Arbitrary Command Execution Vulnerability

Solution:
Currently the SecurityFocus staff are not aware of any vendor-supplied patches for this issue. If you feel we are in error or are aware of more recent information, please mail us at: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>.

References

GNU Locate Arbitrary Command Execution Vulnerability

References:

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