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                                  CERT-Renater

                       Note d'Information No. 2004/VULN459
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DATE                      : 27/10/2004

HARDWARE PLATFORM(S)      : /

OPERATING SYSTEM(S)       : Linux systems running JDS 2003, JDS Release 2.

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    Sun(sm) Alert Notification
      * Sun Alert ID: 57658
      * Synopsis: Security Vulnerabilities Involving the utempter(8)
        Utility
      * Category: Security
      * Product: Sun Java Desktop System (JDS)
      * BugIDs: 6179483
      * Avoidance: Patch
      * State: Resolved
      * Date Released: 26-Oct-2004
      * Date Closed: 26-Oct-2004
      * Date Modified:

    1. Impact Unprivileged local users may be able to overwrite arbitrary
    files on a system due to a security vulnerability in the utempter(8)
    utility.

    Note: utempter(8) is a privileged helper program that writes utmp/wtmp
    entries for unprivileged programs.

    This issue is described in the following documents:

      * [2]http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CAN-2004-0233
      * [3]http://xforce.iss.net/xforce/xfdb/15904
      * [4]http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/o-133.shtml

    2. Contributing Factors This issue can occur in the following
    releases:

    Linux

      * Sun Java Desktop System (JDS) 2003 without the updated RPMs
        (patch-8934)
      * Sun Java Desktop System (JDS) Release 2 without the updated RPMs
        (patch-8934)

    Note: JDS for Solaris is not impacted by this issue.

    This issue only occurs with utempter versions utempter-0.5.2-342 or
    earlier.

    To determine the release of JDS for Linux installed on a system, the
    following command can be run:

     % cat /etc/sun-release
     Sun Java Desktop System, Release 2 -build 10b (GA)
     Assembled 30 March 2004

    To determine the version of utempter, the following command can be
    run:

     % rpm -qf /usr/sbin/utempter
     utempter-0.5.2-342

    3. Symptoms There are no predictable symptoms that would show the
    described issue has been exploited.

    Solution Summary [5]Top

    4. Relief/Workaround There is no workaround. Please see the
    "Resolution" section below.

    5. Resolution This issue is addressed in the following releases:

    Linux

      * Sun Java Desktop System (JDS) 2003 with the updated RPMs
        (patch-8934)
      * Sun Java Desktop System (JDS) Release 2 with the updated RPMs
        (patch-8934)

    To download and install the updated RPMs from the update servers
    select the following from the launch bar:

     Launch >> Applications >> System Tools >> Online Update



    For additional information on obtaining updates see:

      * [6]http://wwws.sun.com/software/javadesktopsystem/faq.html#5q5
      * [7]http://wwws.sun.com/software/javadesktopsystem/faq.html#5q7

    This Sun Alert notification is being provided to you on an "AS IS"
    basis. This Sun Alert notification may contain information provided by
    third parties. The issues described in this Sun Alert notification may
    or may not impact your system(s). Sun makes no representations,
    warranties, or guarantees as to the information contained herein. ANY
    AND ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION
    WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR
    NON-INFRINGEMENT, ARE HEREBY DISCLAIMED. BY ACCESSING THIS DOCUMENT
    YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SUN SHALL IN NO EVENT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT,
    INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES THAT ARISE
    OUT OF YOUR USE OR FAILURE TO USE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN.
    This Sun Alert notification contains Sun proprietary and confidential
    information. It is being provided to you pursuant to the provisions of
    your agreement to purchase services from Sun, or, if you do not have
    such an agreement, the Sun.com Terms of Use. This Sun Alert
    notification may only be used for the purposes contemplated by these
    agreements.

    Copyright 2000-2004 Sun Microsystems, Inc., 4150 Network Circle, Santa
    Clara, CA 95054 U.S.A. All rights reserved.

References

    1. http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/printfriendly.do?assetkey=1-26-57658-1#top
    2. http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CAN-2004-0233
    3. http://xforce.iss.net/xforce/xfdb/15904
    4. http://www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/o-133.shtml
    5. http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/printfriendly.do?assetkey=1-26-57658-1#top
    6. http://wwws.sun.com/software/javadesktopsystem/faq.html#5q5
    7. http://wwws.sun.com/software/javadesktopsystem/faq.html#5q7

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