GLSA 200411-26: GIMPS, SETI@home, ChessBrain: Insecure installation

Security update for GIMPS, SETI@home, ChessBrain are now available for Gentoo Linux

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Gentoo Linux Security Advisory GLSA 200411-26
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http://security.gentoo.org/
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Severity: High
Title: GIMPS, SETI@home, ChessBrain: Insecure installation
Date: November 17, 2004
Bugs: #69868
ID: 200411-26

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Synopsis
=======

Improper file ownership allows user-owned files to be run with root privileges by init scripts.

Background
=========

GIMPS is a client for the distributed Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search. SETI@home is the client for the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) project. ChessBrain is the client for the distributed chess supercomputer.

Affected packages
================

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Package / Vulnerable / Unaffected
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1 app-sci/gimps <= 23.9 >= 23.9-r1
2 app-sci/setiathome <= 3.08-r3 >= 3.08-r4
*>= 3.03-r2
3 app-sci/chessbrain <= 20407 >= 20407-r1
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3 affected packages on all of their supported architectures.
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Description
==========

GIMPS, SETI@home and ChessBrain ebuilds install user-owned binaries and init scripts which are executed with root privileges.

Impact
=====

This could lead to a local privilege escalation or root compromise.

Workaround
=========

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution
=========

All GIMPS users should upgrade to the latest version:

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=app-sci/gimps-23.9-r1"

All SETI@home users should upgrade to the latest version:

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=app-sci/setiathome-3.08-r4"

All ChessBrain users should upgrade to the latest version:

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=app-sci/chessbrain-20407-r1"

Availability
===========

This GLSA and any updates to it are available for viewing at the Gentoo Security Website:

http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200411-26.xml

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 security@gentoo.org or alternatively, you may file a bug at http://bugs.gentoo.org.

License
======

Copyright 2004 Gentoo Foundation, Inc; referenced text belongs to its owner(s).

The contents of this document are licensed under the Creative Commons - Attribution / Share Alike license.

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0