Vulnerability Note VU#134025

kernel-utils sets insecure permissions on "uml_net" utility

Overview

The uml_net utility, part of the kernel-utils package in Red Hat Linux 8.0, was shipped with incorrect permissions.

I. Description

User-Mode Linux (UML) is a tool to provide a virtual machine in which to run another copy of Linux. In Red Hat linux 8.0, the kernel-utils package contains the UML utilities. One of the UML utilities, uml_net, was incorrectly shipped setuid root.

II. Impact

Local users could control network interfaces, put interfaces into promiscuous mode, and add and remove arp entries and routes.

III. Solution

Apply a patch as described in the Red Hat bulletin. If a patch cannot be applied, you can remove the suid bit from the uml_net package with the following command:

chmod -s /usr/bin/uml_net

Systems Affected

Vendor	Status	Date Notified	Date Updated
Red Hat Inc.	Vulnerable	11-Feb-2003

References

https://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2003-056.html
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=83685
http://user-mode-linux.sourceforge.net/
http://lwn.net/Vulnerabilities/22202/
http://online.securityfocus.com/advisories/4951
http://www.uniras.gov.uk/l1/l2/l3/brief2003/Brief%20-%207303.txt

Credit

Red Hat has credited Johny Robertson for discovering this issue.

This document was written by Shawn Hernan based on information provided by Red Hat and other sources.

Other Information

Date Public:	2003-02-07
Date First Published:	2003-02-11
Date Last Updated:	2003-02-11
CERT Advisory:
CVE-ID(s):	CAN-2003-0019
NVD-ID(s):	CAN-2003-0019
US-CERT Technical Alerts:
Metric:	15.82
Document Revision:	4

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