[UNIX] kcheckpass Insecure File Operation

From: SecuriTeam (support_at_securiteam.com)
Date: 09/26/05

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Date: 26 Sep 2005 11:06:32 +0200

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      kcheckpass Insecure File Operation
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

    SUMMARY

     <http://kde.org> kcheckpass - KDE pam client that allows you to auth as a
    specified user without actually doing anything as that user.

    kcheckpass creates lockfile in an insecure way, exploiting this
    vulnerability allows malicious attacker to create a world writable file
    anywhere.

    DETAILS

    Vulnerable Systems:
     * kdebase versions 3.2.0 to 3.4.2

    kcheckpass is a utility used to authenticate users. It's used by tools
    such as kscreensaver. The code that's used to create a lockfile doesn't
    check for or sets the umask. Besides the umask problem it will also
    happily follow symlinks, as shown by the following code snippet:
    ..
    sprintf(fname, "/var/lock/kcheckpass.%d", uid);
    if ((lfd = open(fname, O_RDWR | O_CREAT)) >= 0) {
    }
    ..

    In order for an attacker to be able to exploit this /var/lock would have
    to be world writable and kcheckpass would have to be suid. When these
    conditions are met an attacker can create a world writable file anywhere.

    When properly exploited users can gain root privileges (given that the
    previously mentioned conditions are met).

    CVE Information:
     <http://www.cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CAN-2005-2494>
    CAN-2005-2494

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

    The information has been provided by <mailto:advisories@suresec.org> Ilja
    van Sprundel.
    The original article can be found at:
    <http://www.suresec.org/advisories/adv6.pdf>
    http://www.suresec.org/advisories/adv6.pdf

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