Linux Advisory Watch – August 5, 2005

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Author: Benjamin D. Thomas

This week, advisories were released for gaim, gopher, pdns, apt- catcher, ethereal,
im-sdk, selinux-policy-targeted, gamin, pam, netpbm, mkinitrd, kde, arts, NetworkManager,
labraw, ckermit, httpd, gphoto, coreutils, iiimf, yum, gimp, redhead, zlib,
fetchmail, sandbox prsotext, proftpd, nbsmtp, dump, and SquirrelMail. The distributors
include Debian, Fedora, Gentoo, and Red Hat.Network Intrusion Prevention Systems – When They’re Valuable, and When
They’re Not and When They’re Not, Part II
By: Daniel Miessler

The true benefit of network IPS lies in what it can do for companies
that can’t keep their systems patched. This may sound negative, but
it’s almost as if the request for NIPS technology is analogous to the
requestor admitting that they cannot stay on top of system
administration.

For anyone willing to make this admission, however, the benefits of
network IPS are quite significant. Consider a medium to large sized
company where upper management doesn’t see the need for additional
(see enough) systems and/or security administrators. (This shouldn’t
require much imagination, by the way).

In an environment like this, vulnerabilities are likely to go
unpatched for weeks, months, or even years – even in the Internet-
facing areas. Many things can lead to machines not getting patched
in these sorts of companies – developers claiming that the main
bread-winning app will break if the patches are applied, administrator
fear of being the cause of downtime, apathy, stupidity – take your
pick.

The point is, a strategically-placed network IPS – say in front of
the Internet-facing environment – can do something absolutely magical
for an systems/security staff — it can buy them time. Consider a
site passing a ton of traffic into their DMZ via multiple protocols
to dozens or hundreds of machines, and let’s say several of the
applications being interfaced with have known vulnerabilities. If
the person in charge knows that they lack the ability to patch
all the vulnerable systems (inexcusable, I agree), then the NIPS
system can effectively serve as a multi-patch gateway.

If the NIPS product has a signature for 34 of the 42 exploits that
could potentially root 180 machines, then putting a network IPS at
the bottleneck becomes an alternative to 1. getting cracked, and
2. patching. Make no mistake, though – patching is the better
solution, but I recognize that there are sometimes circumstances
that prevent good admins from doing their jobs. There are also
situations where someone who knows the risks lacks the funding
to bring admins aboard that can help them keep their systems in
top shape. For either of these cases, network IPS seems like an
acceptable evil.

Read Entire Article:
http://www.linuxsecurity.com/content/view/119888/49/

 

LinuxSecurity.com
Feature Extras:

Linux File
& Directory Permissions Mistakes – One common mistake Linux administrators
make is having file and directory permissions that are far too liberal and
allow access beyond that which is needed for proper system operations. A full
explanation of unix file permissions is beyond the scope of this article,
so I’ll assume you are familiar with the usage of such tools as chmod, chown,
and chgrp. If you’d like a refresher, one is available right here on linuxsecurity.com.

Introduction:
Buffer Overflow Vulnerabilities – Buffer overflows are a leading type
of security vulnerability. This paper explains what a buffer overflow is,
how it can be exploited, and what countermeasures can be taken to prevent
the use of buffer overflow vulnerabilities.

Getting
to Know Linux Security: File Permissions – Welcome to the first
tutorial in the ‘Getting to Know Linux Security’ series. The topic explored
is Linux file permissions. It offers an easy to follow explanation of how
to read permissions, and how to set them using chmod. This guide is intended
for users new to Linux security, therefore very simple. If the feedback is
good, I’ll consider creating more complex guides for advanced users. Please
let us know what you think and how these can be improved.

 

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Thank you for reading the LinuxSecurity.com
weekly security newsletter. The purpose of this document is to provide our readers
with a quick summary of each week’s most relevant Linux security headline.

   Debian
  Debian: New gaim packages fix denial
of service
  29th, July, 2005

Updated package.
 
  Debian: New gopher packages fix insecure
temporary file creation
  29th, July, 2005

Update package.
 
  Debian: New pdns packages fix denial
of service
  1st, August, 2005

Updated package.
 
  Debian: New apt-cacher package fixes
arbitrary command execution
  3rd, August, 2005

Updated package.
 
   Fedora
  Fedora Core 3 Update: ethereal-0.10.12-1.FC3.1
  28th, July, 2005

Updated package.
 
  Fedora Core 3 Update: im-sdk-12.1-10.FC3.1
  28th, July, 2005

Updated package.
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: selinux-policy-targeted-1.25.3-6
  28th, July, 2005

Updated package.
 
  Fedora Core 3 Update: gamin-0.1.1-3.FC3
  29th, July, 2005

This should fix the problem where monitoring desktop files works
initially but sometimes fails after a while. This is a safe update from
0.1.1-1.FC3
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: gamin-0.1.1-3.FC4
  29th, July, 2005

This should fix the problem where monitoring desktop files works
initially but sometimes fails after a while. This is a safe update from
0.1.1-1.FC4
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: pam-0.79-9.4
  29th, July, 2005

This update fixes a regression of pam_userdb against FC3 pam
and links to shared audit library as audit-libs-devel is now fixed.
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: netpbm-10.28-1.FC4.1
  29th, July, 2005

Update package.
 
  Fedora Core 3 Update: netpbm-10.28-1.FC3.1
  29th, July, 2005

Updated package.
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: ethereal-0.10.12-1.FC4.1
  29th, July, 2005

Updated package.
 
  Fedora Core 3 Update: mkinitrd-4.1.18.1-1
  29th, July, 2005

This update should fix the issue a number of people saw after
the recent kernel update where various modules would fail to load during
boot, making systems unbootable. After updating this package, remove,
and reinstall the recent kernel update, and the initrd will be recreated
correctly.
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: kdeaddons-3.4.2-0.fc4.1
  29th, July, 2005

KDE 3.4.2 update
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: kdesdk-3.4.2-0.fc4.1
  29th, July, 2005

KDE 3.4.2 update
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: kdepim-3.4.2-0.fc4.2
  29th, July, 2005

KDE 3.4.2 update
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: kdemultimedia-3.4.2-0.fc4.1
  29th, July, 2005

KDE 3.4.2 update
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: kdelibs-3.4.2-0.fc4.1
  29th, July, 2005

KDE 3.4.2 update
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: kdewebdev-3.4.2-0.fc4.1
  29th, July, 2005

KDE 3.4.2 update
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: kdebase-3.4.2-0.fc4.1
  29th, July, 2005

KDE 3.4.2 update
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: kdevelop-3.2.2-0.fc4.1
  29th, July, 2005

KDE 3.4.2 update
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: kdeutils-3.4.2-0.fc4.1
  29th, July, 2005

KDE 3.4.2 update
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: kdenetwork-3.4.2-0.fc4.1
  29th, July, 2005

KDE 3.4.2 update
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: kde-i18n-3.4.2-0.fc4.1
  29th, July, 2005

KDE 3.4.2 update
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: kdegraphics-3.4.2-0.fc4.1
  29th, July, 2005

KDE 3.4.2 update
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: kdegames-3.4.2-0.fc4.1
  29th, July, 2005

KDE 3.4.2 update
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: kdeedu-3.4.2-0.fc4.1
  29th, July, 2005

KDE 3.4.2 update
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: kdebindings-3.4.2-0.fc4.1
  29th, July, 2005

KDE 3.4.2 update
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: kdeartwork-3.4.2-0.fc4.1
  29th, July, 2005

KDE 3.4.2 update
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: kdeadmin-3.4.2-0.fc4.1
  29th, July, 2005

KDE 3.4.2 update
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: kdeaccessibility-3.4.2-0.fc4.1
  29th, July, 2005

KDE 3.4.2 update
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: arts-1.4.2-0.fc4.1
  29th, July, 2005

KDE 3.4.2 update
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: NetworkManager-0.4-20.FC4.1
  29th, July, 2005

Network Manager passes logging messages straight to syslog as
the format string.
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: libraw1394-1.2.0-1.fc4
  31st, July, 2005

Updated package.
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: selinux-policy-targeted-1.25.3-9
  1st, August, 2005

Updated package.
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: ckermit-8.0.211-2.FC4
  1st, August, 2005

Updated package.
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: httpd-2.0.54-10.1
  2nd, August, 2005

This update security fixes for CVE CAN-2005-2088 and CVE CAN-2005-1268,
along with some minor bug fixes.
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: kdegames-3.4.2-0.fc4.2
  2nd, August, 2005

Updated package.
 
  Fedora Core 3 Update: httpd-2.0.53-3.2
  2nd, August, 2005

This update includes version 2.0.53 of the Apache HTTP server,
and also adds security fixes for CVE CAN-2005-2088 and CVE CAN-2005-1268.
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: gphoto2-2.1.6-1.1
  2nd, August, 2005

Updated to new release.
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: coreutils-5.2.1-48.1
  2nd, August, 2005

This updated package fixes “who -r” and “who -b”.
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: iiimf-12.2-4.fc4.2
  2nd, August, 2005

Updated package.
 
  Fedora Core 3 Update: yum-2.2.2-0.fc3
  2nd, August, 2005

This update fixes a few minor problems.
 
  Fedora Core 3 Update: ethereal-0.10.12-1.FC3.2
  3rd, August, 2005

To reduce the risk of future vulnerabilities in Ethereal, the
ethereal and tethereal programs in this update have been compiled as Position
Independant Executables (PIE).
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: ethereal-0.10.12-1.FC4.2
  3rd, August, 2005

To reduce the risk of future vulnerabilities in Ethereal, the
ethereal and tethereal programs in this update have been compiled as Position
Independant Executables (PIE).
 
  Fedora Core 3 Update: gimp-2.2.8-0.fc3.2
  3rd, August, 2005

Updated package.
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: gimp-2.2.8-0.fc4.2
  3rd, August, 2005

Updated package.
 
  Fedora Core 4 Update: readahead-1.1-1.16_FC4
  3rd, August, 2005

This update should fix a inverted case where readahead would
be triggered on boxes that have less than 384MB of memory, and would not
occur if the box had more than 384MB of memory.
 
   Gentoo
  Gentoo: Ethereal Multiple vulnerabilities
  28th, July, 2005

Ethereal is vulnerable to numerous vulnerabilities potentially
resulting in the execution of arbitrary code or abnormal termination.
 
  Gentoo: Shorewall Security policy bypass
  29th, July, 2005

A vulnerability in Shorewall allows clients authenticated by
MAC address filtering to bypass all other security rules.
 
  Gentoo: zlib Buffer overflow
  29th, July, 2005

zlib is vulnerable to a buffer overflow which could potentially
lead to execution of arbitrary code.
 
  Gentoo: fetchmail Buffer Overflow
  29th, July, 2005

fetchmail is susceptible to a buffer overflow resulting in a
Denial of Service or arbitrary code execution.
 
  Gentoo: Kopete Vulnerability in included
Gadu library
  29th, July, 2005

Kopete is vulnerable to several input validation vulnerabilities
which may lead to execution of arbitrary code.
 
  Gentoo: Mozilla Suite Multiple vulnerabilities
  29th, July, 2005

Several vulnerabilities in the Mozilla Suite allow attacks ranging
from the execution of javascript code with elevated privileges to inormation
leakage.
 
  Gentoo: Clam AntiVirus Integer overflows
  29th, July, 2005

Clam AntiVirus is vulnerable to integer overflows when handling
several file formats, potentially resulting in the execution of arbitrary
code.
 
  Gentoo: sandbox Insecure temporary file
handling
  29th, July, 2005

The sandbox utility may create temporary files in an insecure
manner.
 
  Gentoo: AMD64 x86 emulation base libraries
Buffer overflow
  30th, July, 2005

The x86 emulation base libraries for AMD64 contain a vulnerable
version of zlib which could potentially lead to execution of arbitrary
code.
 
  Gentoo: pstotext Remote execution of
arbitrary code
  31st, July, 2005

pstotext contains a vulnerability which can potentially result
in the execution of arbitrary code.
 
  Gentoo: Compress:Zlib: Buffer overflow
  1st, August, 2005

Compress::Zlib is vulnerable to a buffer overflow which could
potentially lead to execution of arbitrary code.
 
  Gentoo: ProFTPD Format string vulnerabilities
  1st, August, 2005

Under specific circumstances, ProFTPD is vulnerable to format
string vulnerabilities, potentially resulting in the execution of arbitrary
code.
 
  Gentoo: ProFTPD Format string vulnerabilities
  1st, August, 2005

Under specific circumstances, ProFTPD is vulnerable to format
string vulnerabilities, potentially resulting in the execution of arbitrary
code.
 
  Gentoo: nbSMTP Format string vulnerability
  2nd, August, 2005

nbSMTP is vulnerable to a format string vulnerability which
may result in remote execution of arbitrary code.
 
   Red
Hat
  RedHat: Low: dump security update
  3rd, August, 2005

Updated dump packages that address two security issues are now
available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 2.1. This update has been rated
as having low security impact by the Red Hat Security Response Team.
 
  RedHat: Moderate: SquirrelMail security
update
  3rd, August, 2005

An updated squirrelmail package that fixes two security issues
is now available. This update has been rated as having moderate security
impact by the Red Hat Security Response T am.
 

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