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A Hashcash security update is available for Gentoo Linux

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Gentoo Linux Security Advisory GLSA 200503-12
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http://security.gentoo.org/
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Severity: Normal
Title: Hashcash: Format string vulnerability
Date: March 06, 2005
Bugs: #83541
ID: 200503-12

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Synopsis
=======

A format string vulnerability in the Hashcash utility could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code.



Background
=========

Hashcash is a utility for generating Hashcash tokens, a proof-of-work system to reduce the impact of spam.

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

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Package / Vulnerable / Unaffected
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1 net-misc/hashcash < 1.16-r1 >= 1.16-r1

Description
==========

Tavis Ormandy of the Gentoo Linux Security Audit Team identified a flaw in the Hashcash utility that an attacker could expose by specifying a malformed reply address.

Impact
=====

Successful exploitation would permit an attacker to disrupt Hashcash users, and potentially execute arbitrary code.

Workaround
=========

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution
=========

All Hashcash users should upgrade to the latest version:

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=net-misc/hashcash-1.16-r1"

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

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

http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200503-12.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 2005 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