[Slackit.org] [slackware-security] getmail (SSA:2004-278-01)

[valnir]

[slackware-security]  getmail (SSA:2004-278-01)

New getmail packages are available for Slackware 9.1, 10.0 and -current to
fix a security issue.  If getmail is used as root to deliver to user owned
files or directories, it can be made to overwrite system files.

More details about this issue may be found in the Common
Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) database:

  http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CAN-2004-880
  http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CAN-2004-881

Here are the details from the Slackware 10.0 ChangeLog:
+--------------------------+
patches/packages/getmail-4.2.0-noarch-1.tgz:  Upgraded to
  getmaii-4.2.0.  Earlier versions contained a local security flaw when
used in an insecure fashion (surprise, running something as root that
writes to user-controlled files or directories could
  allow the old symlink attack to clobber system files!  :-)
  From the getmail CHANGELOG:
      This vulnerability is not exploitable if the administrator does not
deliver mail to the maildirs/mbox files of untrusted local users, or
if getmail is configured to use an external
      unprivileged MDA.  This vulnerability is not remotely exploitable.
  Most users would not use getmail in such as way as to be vulnerable to
this flaw, but if your site does this package closes the hole. I'd also
recommend not using getmail like this.  Either run it as the user that
owns the target mailbox, or deliver through an external MDA. (* Security
fix *)
+--------------------------+


Where to find the new packages:
+-----------------------------+

Updated package for Slackware 9.1:
ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-9.1/patches/packages/getmail-3.2.5-noarch-1.tgz

Updated package for Slackware 10.0:
ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-10.0/patches/packages/getmail-4.2.0-noarch-1.tgz

Updated package for Slackware -current:
ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-current/slackware/n/getmail-4.2.0-noarch-1.tgz


MD5 signatures:
+-------------+

Slackware 9.1 package:
d31d3b88d33488fc55061ea154e31457  getmail-3.2.5-noarch-1.tgz

Slackware 10.0 package:
47b5454e061919f2d2128a16fca3a037  getmail-4.2.0-noarch-1.tgz

Slackware -current package:
65f55bffa3f5fb5158f5f5efb590671a  getmail-4.2.0-noarch-1.tgz


Installation instructions:
+------------------------+

Upgrade the package as root:
# upgradepkg getmail-4.2.0-noarch-1.tgz


+-----+

Slackware Linux Security Team
http://slackware.com/gpg-key
address@hidden